Moise Mann. I see them living together more, responding to each other and influencing each other while respecting their common values: quality, the search for perfection and listening to customers.
Today, the word “merger” is disturbing because it is, unfortunately, often synonymous with reduction of resources and personnel…
I can understand this fear but it is neither the intention nor the philosophy of Maison Holemans&Manalys: the two addresses are maintained, their two workshops as well as their teams which have even been expanded, both on the craftsmen and in terms of customer reception.
What then is the objective of this merger which questions and disconcerts some?
Quite simply, to highlight the historical affiliation of the two houses under one and the same banner. It is, in fact, a matter of concretizing a rapprochement that already existed before. The two intramural workshops – Boulevard de Waterloo at Manalys and Place du Grand Sablon at Holemans – have always manufactured the creations of the two houses indiscriminately. There has never been any difference either in the allocation of stones which I myself ensure the supply as close as possible to the mines. To reassure fans of iconic Holemans pieces, our future collections will continue to include the timeless Antelope engagement ring, nor the much-loved Promesse.
Merging offers the opportunity to remember how you have been the link between the two houses, doesn’t it?
Indeed, I was a Holemans craftsman for more than 20 years before founding my own house in 2009 and taking over Holemans jewelry in 2013, with the desire to perpetuate its exceptional heritage. This is why I do not want to upset or delete anything that has allowed me to exercise my passion for the beauty of stones.
If it rightly represents a personal achievement, the Holemans&Manalys merger had to be expressed in a tangible way. The bright change of decor of the boutique at 11, boulevard de Waterloo is easy to see: leave behind the singular atmosphere of a cabinet of curiosities for more harmony with the modernity of the Sablon space. Other less obvious changes to decipher?
Both names having shaped my career, it was out of the question to imagine a new one who would oversee both addresses. By chronological plausibility and because it shines in the hearts of many people in Belgium, Holemans precedes Manalys in the new signature of windows, boxes, bags and letterheads. The squirrel – Holemans’ master punch – establishes a breathing space between the two entities. A tribute to the Holemans jewelry dynasty founded in 1922!
Tell me what watch you wear, I’ll tell you who you are!
Holemans Manalys
11, boulevard de Waterloo and 4, place du Grand Sablon, 1000 Brussels.
02 512 61 18 – 02 538 83 11
Holemans-manalys.com
