Icons
The Icons are the ones that stayed: worn daily, passed between seasons, requested again and again.
Founded in Antwerp in 2017, Lies Mertens is an independent leather-goods label that fuses sculptural objects with everyday use, through craftsmanship, material research and long-term vision. Each design grows from a close dialogue with the material, allowing its qualities to guide its form. Working exclusively with European leather, the hides are handpicked for their structure, character and aging qualities — selecting materials that become richer over time. A good design is one that gets better with use.
Collections evolve, rather than replacing one another. Every finished design is handcrafted in one of two small-scale family-run ateliers — one in Northern Italy, run by Franco, and one in Tunisia, led by Stefaan & Gaetane.