Belgian Bag Brands: The Complete Guide
- Soho Francotte
- 4 days ago
- 4 min read
The Belgian leather goods scene is vibrant, diverse, and often misunderstood: many brands are Belgian by name or artistic direction, but manufacturing might take place in Belgium, Italy, Portugal, or elsewhere. This 2026 guide lists the active Belgian brands, indicating for each a price range, the declared production location, and the materials used — so you can choose with full knowledge. Objective: neutral and sourced information, to better compare (and spot the brands truly manufactured in Belgium). Discover also the criteria to check before buying.
How to read this guide
We have included only active brands (official website updated, e-shop open, or recent press appearances). For each brand, the Price column shows a range observed on the official website; Manufacturing includes the brand's official statement (if indicated); Materials summarises the materials highlighted by the brand. When production is not explicitly indicated, we report "production in Europe" or the mention provided by the brand.
How to recognise a genuine Belgian brand
Some simple reference points:
Headquarters and address: presence of a Belgian address on the website.
Proof of production: "production" page, mentions "made in...", workshop photos, "Handmade in Belgium" label.
Materials transparency: clear description of materials (Italian leather, grape skin, cactus, next-gen PU...).
Example: Lubay indicates design and manufacturing in its studio-workshop in Belgium and highlights next-gen vegan materials made in the EU.
THE MAIN BELGIAN BAG BRANDS
DELVAUX
Positioning : Historic Belgian house (1829), international luxury
Price : € 1,900 to € 15,900
Manufacturing : Belgium, France, and Italy (depending on the piece)
Materials : High-end leather
Website : Delvaux
LILU
Positioning : Artisan bags/accessories, timeless pieces
Price : € 345 (fanny pack) to € 940
Manufacturing : Workshop in Brussels
Materials : Leather
Website : Lilu
OCTOGONY
Positioning : Architectural lines, strong design
Price : € 210 (phone pouch) to € 1,350
Manufacturing : Europe (mainly Portugal)
Materials : Leather
Website : Octogony
CLIO GOLDBRENNER
Positioning : Daily icons, signature metalwork
Price : € 195 (nylon clutch bag) to € 665
Manufacturing : Spain, China, and Portugal
Materials : Leather, nylon
Website : Clio Goldbrenner
KAAI BAGS
Positioning : Business bags & structured bags
Price : € 325 (clutch) to € 895
Manufacturing : South Asia
Materials : Leather
Website : Kaai
NIYONA (ATELIER À BRUXELLES)
Positioning : High maroquinerie workshop, bespoke pieces
Price : Upon request
Manufacturing : Brussels
Materials : Leather, exotic, special projects
Website : Niyona
LUBAY
Positioning : High-end vegan bags, made in Belgium
Price : € 119 (phone pouch) to € 339
Manufacturing : Belgium
Materials : next-gen vegan materials (innovative biomaterials, no animal leather)
Comparison Table: Active Belgian Brands (2026)
Observation Points: Few brands explicitly state 100% Belgian production — most mention a Belgian design and manufacturing in Italy or Portugal for expertise or industrial capacity reasons. Delvaux, a historic Belgian house, maintains exceptional production and workshops, confirming its status as a Belgian luxury house.
Analysis by Category
Brands genuinely manufactured in Belgium
They are rare but exist. These are often workshop-brands or small houses that manufacture in limited series. Examples cited in this guide: Lubay (design & manufacturing in Belgium), Niyona (workshop in Brussels), and LILU (workshop-boutique in Brussels). These brands claim local manufacturing and transparency about the process. Discover our studio-workshop.
Brands designed in Belgium but manufactured in Italy
Several high-end Belgian brands outsource their production to Italy for leather goods expertise: finishing, tanning, know-how of Italian workshops. Examples: some premium houses and contemporary labels. Delvaux remains a historical specificity that maintains artisanal production in Belgium.
Brands designed in Belgium but manufactured in Portugal
Portugal is often chosen to combine quality and controlled costs; this is the case for several brands in the accessible premium segment (e.g., Mieke Dierckx indicates production in Portuguese workshops for some collections).
Vegan brands & next-gen materials
The rise of alternative materials continues: grape-skin, grape-based materials, vegetable fibre alternatives, new-generation PU... Some Belgian brands position themselves on these materials (Lubay is an example with its next-gen vegan materials). Showing the material allows the customer to understand the actual durability and performance. Learn more about our materials.
Which bag to choose according to your budget (practical indication)
< € 150: entry-level brands, often series produced in Portugal or economical options.
€ 150–€ 300: good value, often Portugal production / small series.
€ 300–€ 500: accessible premium segment — this is where Lubay is positioned (≈ € 299–€ 339); often European production, superior quality.
€ 500–€ 2,000: premium positioning, sometimes Italian manufacturing.
> € 2,000: luxury houses (e.g., Delvaux) – historical know-how, highly artisanal products.
The criteria to check before buying (checklist)
Where is the bag manufactured? (product page + legal notice)
What exactly is the material? (technical name and origin)
Repairability / Customer Service: local brands often offer a repair service.
Workshop photos / proofs: studio-workshop photos, visible process = sign of transparency.
Returns / Guarantee policy.
FAQ
Q1 — Which Belgian brands genuinely manufacture in Belgium?
A: Very few. Among those that clearly display it: Lubay (studio-workshop in Belgium), Niyona (workshop in Brussels), LILU (workshop-boutique Brussels). This information comes from the brands' official pages.
Q2 — Why do some Belgian brands have their manufacturing done in Italy or Portugal?
A: Italy remains the leader for high-end leather goods craftsmanship (finishes, tanning), Portugal is a solution for European production at controlled costs. Several brands indicate this choice on their production pages.
Q3 — How to verify where a bag is made?
A: Look for the "made in" mention on the product page, check the "production" or "workshop" page, consult the legal notice, and don't hesitate to contact Customer Service for confirmation.
Q4 — Are bags made in Belgium always more expensive?
A: Generally yes — higher labour costs and production in small series explain the higher prices. The table above illustrates the observed price ranges.
Q5 — What does “next-gen vegan” mean? A: A term referring to recent alternative materials (grape skin, cactus, 100% synthetic new-generation compounds) without animal matter. For technical details, see our page Our materials.
Conclusion
The Belgian scene is varied: brands produced entirely in Belgium are rare, but many design locally and manufacture in Italy or Portugal. This guide helps you get clarity — and choose with full knowledge. To discover a 100% vegan and Belgian-made option, explore our collection.
