Apart from the possibly distant origin of the leather, the bags travel short distances from production to customers’ hands. Designing takes place in Westerlo in Flanders and production in Portugal, then the bag returns to Flanders for sale. Every step therefore happens in Europe, although the leather may come from outside of Europe.
The exact location and name of the Porto workshop are not shared but photos and stories taken during factory visits are. The origin of the leather is also unknown.
Each part of these Belgian bags is designed in Mieke’s studio in Westerlo and then crafted in a small workshop in Portugal. Mieke Dierckx makes handbags, purses and scarves, usually in limited editions and sometimes even as unique pieces. Check out this brand for Belgian design elegant and eye-catching leather bags. Mieke, who started her brand in 2012, says on her website that she is inspired by “everyday life”.
Ethical
Mieke Dierckx is in close contact with the workshop where the bags are made in Portugal. During ‘Fashion Revolution Week’, Mieke gave a behind-the-scenes look into her workshop in Porto. She pays the manufacturer regular visits to survey production, the quality of the leather and the other materials. Mieke Dierckx values the well-being of her artisans, which is why we awarded this brand the ‘ethically made in Europe’ badge!
Materials
The handbags are made out of high-quality cowhide leather, the lining is often goatskin and sometimes fabric. Some bags are finished with suede or fur.
Cows emit a lot of CO2 and methane gases, in addition they consume a lot of water and deforestation is needed to produce grain and soya to feed the cows. Leather as a material therefore has quite a big impact on the environment but because these bags are high quality, they will last for years, putting the emissions into perspective.
Animal welfare
Cows and goats have to be slaughtered for the leather and it is unclear whether the leather used for these bags is a by-product of the meat industry. It is also unclear whether it is organic livestock farming or not and where the leather comes from.
Circular economy
If your Mieke Dierckx bag is damaged and the damage is repairable, she will repair it herself. The repair and shipping costs are to be covered by the customer. This way, her bags have even longer lives.
The people behind Mieke Dierckx are always coming up with solutions to make the entire production more sustainable and reduce waste production. They always discuss this with the factory owners during their regular visits. For example, key rings are now made from leather scraps left over from the handbags and they have banned all plastics in the production and packaging stages. The bags are transported from Portugal to Belgium in their dustbags.
Slow fashion
Mieke Dierckx’s bags have a timeless, minimalist yet unique design. The bags come out in collections that channel design inspirations, some have 3D patterns made using laser technology and others don’t have patterns at all. The bags are usually available in different colours and are non-seasonal.
The bags are also made in limited editions, to avoid surplus stock. If a bag is out of stock, customers are welcome to send the brand an email to enquire when it will be available again.
You’ll find Mieke Dierckx’s elegant Belgian bags at the stores on the map below.
