Brooklyn was founded in 1972, right in the middle of a period of cultural and fashion renewal. Brooklyn tapped into the youth culture and immediately became a trendsetter in Belgium.
Brooklyn was founded by Lieven Descamps, with the vision of bringing the American denim culture to Belgium and catering to the fashion needs of the youth.
"I opened Brooklyn in 1972 in Kortrijk, driven by a spirit of renewal and denim as fashion. Together with Rita, we grew, with stores in West and East Flanders and innovations like a digital system and a webshop. In 2017, we passed the torch to Ubbe and Chloé, who are now further developing Brooklyn. True to our roots, but ready for the future."
Brooklyn's first location opened in Kortrijk, a strategic spot that allowed us to quickly embrace modern fashion.
Brooklyn stood out with a non-conformist, rebellious clothing style that perfectly matched the youth culture of the '70s. Denim was the star, but we also brought a fresh breeze to the fashion world.
Today, Brooklyn has eight stores spread across West and East Flanders. The stores are located in Kortrijk, Roeselare, Brugge, Knokke, Oostende, Waregem, Gent & Nieuwpoort. Brooklyn remains a staple in the fashion world, true to our roots.
The current baseline is 'Brands & Pants'. The emphasis is on top brands and the focus on pants, our niche since the founding. The original baseline was ‘Passion for Fashion’.
In the early years, brands like Levi's, Wrangler, and Lee were very popular. These brands, known for their quality and denim, perfectly matched the fashion needs of Belgian youth.
By placing our stores in the heart of cities, Brooklyn remains an integral part of city life and allows us to quickly respond to the latest trends.
Brooklyn stays innovative by quickly picking up on trends and embracing technologies like a webshop and digital systems, which helped us stay ahead of the competition.
Brooklyn introduced a digital stock system in the late '70s, which was unique at the time. Later, it became a pioneer with a webshop, allowing it to reach customers even better and be ready for the future.
Two of Lieven and Rita's children, Eef and Ubbe, actively work in the company. They ensure the continuity of the family tradition while bringing in fresh ideas and innovation.
The name Brooklyn comes from the iconic neighborhood in New York, but it was more than a reference to America. It was a clever marketing choice, with the alliteration between ‘broek’ and Brooklyn, giving Kortrijk its own 'Brooklyn'.
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