DAMIAAN: A Brand that combines Refined Simplicity and An Unbridled Fantasy…

My dear fashionistas, welcome to my first summer fashion story on the Mr.M blog pages this season. It is a great honor and pleasure for me to have been able to inspire women in their prime to change their perspective on life and introduce novelty into their everyday life through my vision of fashion. Today I will try my best to present you some new fashion novelties that have arrived in my wardrobe.

This unexpected hobby of mine and writing fashion stories became interesting to me because I noticed that people found my stories interesting and inspiring. Honestly, I didn’t expect my writing to be such a success. I have to admit that your messages have given me extra strength to carry on through the difficult period after the surgery in Egypt and to get back to blogging again.

Today I have the great honor and pleasure to introduce you to an unusual new Belgian brand of luxury leather goods that combines refined simplicity and an unbridled fantasy in the creation of its fantastic bags – DAMIAAN.

DAMIAAN is a new luxury Belgian leather goods brand, created by Christina Zeller and Damian O’Sullivan in 2022. With refined simplicity and unbridled fantasy, their creations have surprised and seduced clients across Europe through elegant eccentricity. Driven by their imagination and passion for leather goods, this creative duo pushes the boundaries of the possible, respecting the rigor of the craft and maintaining the greatest degree of artistic freedom.

An unusual combination of traditional form with bold imagination, DAMIAAN presents a collection of bags that bring an unusual blend of refined and simple elegance and grace combined with a unique imagination without limits. The current collection of the DAMIAAN brand consists of two models of bags: Snakebag and Bootbag, this collection is inextricably linked to the imaginary world of surrealism.

Through its first collection, DAMIAAN begins a new creative journey where each bag will carry its own story to tell together with you. I would like to take the opportunity to introduce you to the creators of this amazing brand of leather goods. Damian O’Sullivan, after graduating from the Royal College of Art, he knocked on luxury fashion heaven where he was met by the then director of Hermès, Jean-Louis Dumas, who immediately liked his designs. This fairytale beginning launched a creative journey that would see him design a monumental tower in London for Thames Water, as well as helping Anish Kapoor build his epic water sculpture ‘Decension’. His career was also marked by moments such as designing shoes for Asics and Camper and many porcelain creations for Royal Delft, Rosenthal and Vista Alegre.

For the past fifteen years, he has worked for the famous French houses Hermès and Louis Vuitton, designing tableware, leather goods and home accessories. After thirty years, Damian returns to his very first love – creating unique bags. You must be wondering, why bags? Although it may not be the oldest profession in the world, bag making goes back millennia. Practical and useful then and now, these days, bags are expected to carry stories, and those are the stories that DAMIAAN wants to tell.

Having earned a master’s degree in journalism, Christina Zeller was not destined for her professional career. On the runway as a model at the age of 23, she discovered the world of fashion, which she has never left since. She worked for the biggest fashion houses and designers in France and Belgium. Karl Lagerfeld gave her wings, boldness, fantasy and the privilege to experiment. Working with Christian Lacroix, she learned the rigor of research that always seeks the exceptional and never settles for second best. Her close collaboration with Riccardo Tisci led to the development of all his fashion accessories. Enriched and emboldened by this experience, she joined Delvaux in 2011, where she spent nine years at the helm of the creative, marketing and communications department, contributing to the brand’s luster and brilliance. She once stated: “I have always worked with passion and I was lucky enough to start each day with a smile. With DAMIAAN, I have come full circle and I can feel all the emotions and excitement as if it were the first time.”

In today’s fashion story, I present to you the Snakebag model that is made in France and its classic crescent design belies its clever construction. How else would you get a writhing snake to hold a bag while holding its tongue? The almost invisible seams require exceptional craftsmanship, which our craftsmen have perfected through trials and tribulations to maintain the allure and mystery of their sinuous tail. As real as the snake looks, if you are afraid of snakes you don’t have to shy away because this charming snake will brighten your day!

Snakebag comes in two sizes: small and medium. This model can be found in several color combinations. The decision was difficult, but I decided on a white Snakebag with black details.

Another interesting model in the DAMIAAN collection is the Bootbag, which is made in Italy, bringing together two separate crafts: boots and bag making. Exceptional skills are required in making this sophisticated handbag model, where one craftsman works hand in hand with another to make the bag look its best. The Bootbag will have you wandering around impervious to all the elements, and its leather sole will withstand even the occasional puddle or two you encounter. Stranded or carried by your hand in the air, the Bootbag isn’t afraid to bare its sole. This bag model is made in one size and there are several price variations.

If you want to stay updated and find out what new products DAMIAAN has prepared for us this fashion season, follow this unusual Belgian brand of luxury leather goods on Facebook and Instagram.

OUTFIT

Blazer: IKKS

Necklace: Bvlgari

Earrings: Cartier

Bag: DAMIAAN

Brooch: Max Mara

Trousers: Loro Piana

Shoes: Jimmy Choo via MYTHERESA

The second brand that I want to introduce you to today comes to us from France and I am sure that many of you have at least one of their creations in your wardrobe – IKKS.

IKKS is a French ready-to-wear brand founded in 1987 by Gérard Le Goff in La Seguiniere. The brand was part of the Kidiliz Group for several years before being sold to the White Knight LBO France fund in July 2015. It is one of the first French players in the ready-to-wear medium and high-end range with wide distribution.

How did the IKKS brand get its name? Gérard Le Goff originally wanted to call his mark “X”. As this name was transferred to clothing originally intended for children, the designer chose the name IKKS, which is actually pronounced “X”.

IKKS is undertaking a sincere process of transformation, a comprehensive transformation, which will be applied to every aspect of the company, retaining the strength anchored in their DNA and improving the weaknesses that are observed today. They engage in a resilience approach because IKKS Group management believes that everyone has their share of responsibility. Sometimes it is also difficult because you have to be able to make firm decisions even if their implementation is not easy. But it’s never too late to question yourself and try to do things right. One of their key initiatives is the decision to stop using one of the biggest scourges in the textile industry: virgin polyester.

A transformation has begun to achieve this ambitious goal by 2025. The IKKS teams are sure that it will be difficult, but they are also sure that this decision will have a big impact on their company and that they will have to make certain compromises, but they feel that it is their moral duty and responsibility to show everyone that it is possible. IKKS wants to change without leaving their DNA, without claiming to be something they really aren’t. Making choices means doing nothing more, and that’s something the IKKS team won’t hesitate to do in the coming months and years.

The responsibility of IKKS concerns the entire ecosystem which consists of: People, the core of their business. That is why IKKS works hand in hand with its partners, suppliers and employees. Traceability, a major issue today, to secure their processes and control their supply chains to guarantee product quality. Their materials are becoming more and more ethical. Their skills, expertise and their integrated operational excellence, especially through their partners. IKKS has obligations for the land, the sea and the environment as a whole, to do something sincere and lasting for the planet.

Their “IKKS works better” program is focused on five priorities: Reduce carbon emissions, Develop more ethical materials to reduce their impact on the environment; Guaranteeing social standards throughout the IKKS supply chain; all information about IKKS products is transparent and available to everyone and the reduction of plastic.

What sets IKKS apart from other brands on the market is the excellence of the unique skills that form the heart of the “IKKS works better” approach. Seamstresses, pattern makers, design office, style studio, quality control, CSR teams: IKKS has all the expertise in conceiving and designing the collections in-house in Saint-Macaire-en-Mauges and Paris. It’s local expertise, highlighted every day by a team of passionate people.

As quality goes with things that last, the IKKS teams are dedicated to the task of guaranteeing that customers around the world have desirable and durable products. A team of 22 people based in Saint-Macaire-en-Mauges is fully dedicated to prototyping IKKS models, developing more than 2,500 prototypes per year. This phase, which is very important in the creation of IKKS collections, guarantees the quality of the clothes and that they fit well.

Every outfit looks more interesting and chic with the Poppy Red Double-Breasted Blazer. This blazer has a modern cut with two side pockets with flaps, long sleeves. This blazer features an exclusive IKKS jacquard lining with skull motifs. The blazer has a double breasted, button fastening and a straight fit.

If you want to stay updated and find out what all the novelties IKKS has to offer us this fashion season, follow this French fashion house on Facebook and Instagram.

Loro Piana is an Italian company specialised in clothing and textile products. This fashion house is considered the largest producer of cashmere and also the world’s largest artisanal company processing the luxury fiber.

The Loro Piana company has three divisions (textile divisions): a division that deals with the production of high-quality materials using precious fibers such as cashmere and baby cashmere, vicuna, linen and merino wool, a division that deals with the creation of luxury fashion items (production and distribution of men’s, women’s clothing, footwear and fashion accessories) and the interior design department – production and distribution of interior design products.

In today’s post you have the opportunity to see an interesting piece from the latest women’s Loro Piana Spring – Summer 2024 collection, which is just a small part of my favorites this season because of its distinctive elegance and my love for bright colors. The white colored trousers are perfect for all occasions and extremely easy to match with other colors, they are made of silk.

If you want to stay updated and find out which pieces the Loro Piana fashion house has to offer us this fashion season, visit their official online store and follow them on Facebook and Instagram.

Regarding the story about the jewelry, I got the necklace from my husband as a gift for our 30th wedding anniversary, I remember that we all went to the capital of Italy – Rome as a family to celebrate our wedding anniversary with our children. On the first day while walking around the main street for shopping, I spotted this necklace and told my daughter how beautiful and unusual it was, then we continued our walk. The daughter conveyed my findings to her father and they made a plan to buy the necklace. I was shocked and positively surprised when I saw the Bvlgari shopping bag at dinner the next day when we were celebrating our wedding anniversary and as I needed time to compose myself, Marko unwrapped the box and put the necklace around my neck. I wore this necklace several times during the celebration of important events in our family and today I am sharing this memory with you.

On the other hand, I bought the Cartier earrings when I went on a press media trip with Marko to Qatar last year and I couldn’t resist them. These are my go-to iconic earrings for all time, unique and will be trendy this season as well as seasons to come.

I got the brooch as a gift from my dear friends from the fashion house Max Mara and I think it is now on sale, Marko just told me that he saw it in Berlin a few days ago, so he told me the interesting thing is that it is on a seasonal discount.

I believe many of you have heard about MYTHERESA shopping platform on Mr.M blog, but I would like to introduce you to this electronic fashion paradise. MYTHERESA is one of the leading global luxury e-commerce platforms operating in over 130 countries. Founded as a boutique in 1987, MYTHERESA launched online in 2006 and offers ready-to-wear, shoes, bags and accessories for women, men and children, as well as lifestyle products.

The MYTHERESA online store was founded in 2006 by Susanne and Christoph Botschen and is connected to the multi-brand store in Munich (formerly the THERESA store). In 2014, the THERESA store and mytheresa.com were acquired by the American luxury retailer Neiman Marcus for €150 million, giving Neiman Marcus greater access to international customers and strengthening their e-commerce technology.

During Neiman Marcus’ bankruptcy in 2020, the company began the process of spinning off Mytheresa as an independent entity. In January 2019, Mytheresa launched a children’s clothing category, and in January 2020, Mytheresa Men was launched. In May 2022, a new homeware and lifestyle category followed. In 2022, Mytheresa expanded its luxury offering to include home decor and lifestyle products.

The novelty they presented this year is the launch of certified second-hand watches from over 25 luxury brands, such as Audemars Piguet and Cartier, in cooperation with the Swiss jewelry and watch company Bucherer. As a global retailer, Mytheresa operates in 8 languages: English, German, French, Italian, Spanish, Arabic, Chinese and Korean.

In today’s post, you will see a fashion piece from one of the brands that you can find on the MYTHERESA online shopping platform – Jimmy Choo.

These Jimmy Choo flats are crafted from the finest suede leather with beautiful floral buckles encrusted with Swarovski crystals. The shoes are extremely comfortable for long walks and very practical and easy to match with other colors. I wanted to emphasize the note of elegance of today’s outfit with these black Jimmy Choo flats and I think I succeeded in fulfilling my mission.

I hope you enjoyed my fashion story today. Soon I will show you other summer outfits that can serve as inspiration for this fashion season. See you in a few days at the same place, with some new interesting story. I will try not to take long breaks and I hope you understand the reason for my unexpected absence, but there will be time to catch up and I am sure I will meet your expectations.

Special note: All my photos from today’s post have been specially edited to meet the expectations of blog partners, as well as the readers themselves while respecting the aesthetics and guidelines of fashion photography. Unfortunately, the face and neck lifting operations did not go well and due to the negligence of the medical team from Egypt, I suffered serious aesthetic and health consequences. In agreement with my legal team, I wrote a post with all the details that can be found on this LINK.

Best Regards,

Rose

This post is sponsored by DAMIAAN, IKKS, Max Mara and Loro Piana brands as well as Jimmy Choo brand in collaboration with MYTHERESA luxury ecommerce platform. This post is my personal and honest review of their products.