Would you pay $8,000 for this leather bag?

Of late, you might have heard the term “quiet luxury”.

Often used by fashion pundits when dissecting the wardrobes of the wealthy and dysfunctional on HBO’s Succession, the phrase exploded into mainstream fashion discourse with actor Gwyneth Paltrow’s low-key but eye-wateringly expensive trial wardrobe – think cashmere sweaters from Loro Piana (a brand cheekily dubbed as the billionaire’s Uniqlo), expertly tailored coats from The Row and minimalist jewellery (in 18K gold, of course) from British luxury jeweller Robinson Pelham.

What she wore in court drew as many hits as the incredulous details of the trial itself. While she was eventually acquitted (of “reckless skiing”), with the trial soon to be relegated to just another celebrity pop culture moment, images of her wardrobe will live on forever.

What is quiet luxury?

It’s old money; discerning. It’s the epitome of the phrase “if you know, you know”. Because without flashy logos, what are the other hallmarks of a luxury item? It’s the exquisite craftsmanship and generous use of premium materials – an item that takes a large amount of time and skill to craft. All details that only one with the knowledge and access to luxury would understand and be familiar with.

But here’s the thing: What if quiet luxury isn’t actually a new concept, but rather, something that has been around for centuries? Since, say, 1829, the year that Delvaux, the oldest fine leather luxury goods house in the world, was founded?

Originally a luggage maker from Brussels, the visionary and pragmatic Charles Delvaux foresaw the travel revolution, and quickly realised that women needed a way to keep their personal belongings on hand while on the move. The Maison soon filed the first patent for a leather handbag in 1908, thus becoming the inventor of an item that is today essential to many modern women across the globe.

Delvaux created its first leather handbag called La Princesse and, over the years, continued to craft other wonderful works of art such as the Brillant, Tempete and Pin. Every Delvaux bag created is a timeless classic, meant for each generation to pass down to the next.

A design that lasts lifetimes – isn’t that the epitome of quiet luxury?

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Delvaux owns the richest and most significant archive of over 3,000 handbag designs

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A giant model of the Brillant greets you at the Delvaux museum

What makes a Delvaux bag so expensive?

Housed in a beautiful, refurbished arsenal originally built for the army at the turn of the 20th century, the Delvaux headquarters is an expansive building, an atelier that houses a wealth of knowledge, and the secret of what it takes to create a luxury product that has earned the stamp of approval from the Royal Court of Belgium.

The atelier is also home to a select few expert artisans, all schooled in the art of handling fine leather goods. These artisans posit that they aren’t just making bags – these are wearable works of art that champion meticulous craftsmanship and uncompromising quality. Each bag, from start to finish, is created by the same artisan and completely crafted by hand.

One of the brand’s most emblematic bags, the Brillant, is made of 64 separate leather and metallic pieces, and takes more than eight hours of work to piece together. On average, the Brillant mini in box calf costs about $8,000, and can go upwards of $10,000 for a limited edition piece inspired by the works of renowned surrealist Belgian painter Rene Magritte.

This commitment to exceptional skill and precision is the reason why the bags are limited in production. Throw in the use of quality leather and finishings, and you get a better picture of the astronomical price tag attached to each bag.

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If you know, you know

Unlike some of the more obvious designer bags, a Delvaux bag relies on its illustrious history and designs inspired by its archive to quietly make its presence known. The name Delvaux might not be synonymous with iconic luxury handbags, such as Hermes’ Birkin or Chanel’s Classic Flap, to the general public, but therein lies the appeal of its stealth wealth posterity.

Maybe, the whole point is that it’s so discreet that all one needs is a knowing nod from another fan when you pass each other in the wild. Certainly, it’s not what Succession’s Tom Wambsgans, son-in-law of the show’s main antagonist Logan Roy, would ever scoff at as a “ludicrously capacious” bag, but rather a bag that has nothing to prove, just like the women who carry it. And just so you know, you’ll be in good company – Lady Gaga, Beyonce, Rihanna, Angelina Jolie, Isabelle Huppert, and Catherine Deneuve all count themselves as fans.

So, when it comes to Delvaux, if you know, you know. And if you don’t? Well, it’s high time you should.