Delvaux and E Ink, an alliance between tradition and futurism
The Helios collection fuses timeless leather craftsmanship with cutting-edge ePaper technology
September 26th, 2024
On Wednesday, at the heart of Paris Fashion Week, Delvaux was set to unveil a collaboration that breaks the mold. Known for its artisanal craftsmanship, the Belgian leather goods house is teaming up with E Ink, a pioneer in ePaper technology, to create an unexpected capsule collection. This meeting represents the fusion of noble leather and electronic innovation, two worlds that seem at odds but find surprising harmony here. Named Helios, this limited edition line combines the timeless elegance of Delvaux bags with the limitless potential of E Ink's Prism film. This same process previously stunned audiences by transforming a BMW into a mechanical chameleon, capable of changing color at a single touch. Now, this technology enters the refined world of leather goods, promising to redefine luxury accessories.
“Helios unites tradition and innovation,” says Jean-Marc Loubier, CEO of Delvaux. For him, this project is more than a mere style exercise; it is a revolution, sparked by a chance encounter at CES in Las Vegas in 2022, where he discovered E Ink technology. This innovation, capable of changing an object’s appearance without consuming energy once the color is fixed, became an obvious fit. The challenge was adapting this technological feat to a product as traditional as a leather bag. The Helios Pixel model, for instance, incorporates electronic paper panels woven with leather, pushing the boundaries of design. By partnering with E Ink, the brand embraces an artistic approach, reinterpreting its iconic models, like the Le Caprice bag, in a vision boldly looking to the future. This partnership is far from anecdotal; it pays homage to the past while opening new horizons for the leather goods of tomorrow.
Delvaux has never been a house stuck in the past, and since the invention of the modern handbag in 1908, the brand has continually reinvented its heritage, keeping it alive and vibrant. This collaboration with E Ink aligns with this dynamic, where every artisanal gesture becomes a quest for innovation. “Our heritage is in motion,” declares Loubier. By integrating Prism film into models like Helios Psyché, Delvaux doesn’t just follow trends; it leads them, anticipating a future where luxury is no longer limited to material quality but defined by the sensory experience it provides. The marriage of leather and electronic paper in these limited-edition creations embodies this vision. Available in just 100 pieces at selected boutiques, the Helios collection is poised to become a symbol of luxury’s evolution, where the soul of objects transforms through technology while honoring traditional craftsmanship excellence.