Delvaux’s Language of Nature brings Art Nouveau-inspired pieces to Hong Kong

Step through K11 Musea this spring, and you’ll find yourself transported, not merely into a pop-up, but into a living reverie. Here, Delvaux, the world’s oldest fine leather goods house, unfurls its latest collection, Language of Nature, in a celebration of craft, heritage, and the perennial romance between art and the natural world

A floral journey across continents

The story begins far from Hong Kong, at South Coast Plaza Mall in California, where Delvaux’s travelling installation first blossomed. Now, from May 10 to June 2nd, the pop-up finds itself nestled in the Opera Theatre at K11 Musea, before journeying home to Antwerp’s Botanic Hotel - a fitting pilgrimage for a collection so deeply rooted in European artistic tradition. 

But what awaits inside is no ordinary showcase. Visitors are greeted by a reimagined "Flower Kiosk", where materials and transparencies intertwine, echoing the fluid lines and organic motifs that defined the Art Nouveau movement. The entrance, with its gentle curves and muted tones, is an invitation: step in, and let nature’s poetry guide you.

Art Nouveau reimagined

Art Nouveau, which flourished at the turn of the 20th century, was a rebellion against the straight lines and mechanisation of the industrial age. Its champions, from English designer William Morris to Belgian architect Victor Horta, sought to infuse everyday objects with beauty, drawing inspiration from the sinuous forms of flowers and vines. Delvaux’s Language of Nature pays homage to this legacy, reformulating the movement’s essence with a contemporary twist.

Each handbag in the collection is a testament to the house’s storied craftsmanship. Emblematic Art Nouveau flowers - tulips, daisies, lilies - are not merely decorative, but integral to the design. A Brillant bag is wrapped with stylised tulips; a Tempête is embroidered with precious beads evoking daisies; a Pin Bucket in mint is adorned with a white leather iris. The effect is both bucolic and bold, a longing for spring captured in leather and thread.

A living heritage

Delvaux’s reverence for tradition is palpable. The pop-up proudly displays le Princesse, the world’s first patented women’s handbag, linking the maison’s pioneering past to its present innovations. Founded in Brussels in 1829, Delvaux has been an official purveyor to the Belgian royal court since 1883, and its ateliers - still bustling in Belgium and France - are guardians of techniques honed over nearly two centuries.

Yet, for all its history, Delvaux remains resolutely modern. The Language of Nature collection is crafted to the level of haute couture, with each piece employing complex techniques - exquisite embroidery, architectural ironwork, and striking embellishments - that push the boundaries of what leather can express.

Delvaux’s pop-up at K11 Musea offers a luxurious respite in the middle of the city with its Art Nouveau-inspired pieces and decor. In a world that often rushes past beauty, Delvaux invites us to linger, to marvel, and to carry a piece of poetry with us.

Also see: #interview: When Tumi meets Sanz - a celebration of engineering excellence