Vlieger & Vandam
Vlieger & Vandam is a Dutch bag brand founded by the Rotterdam-based design duo Carolien and Hein. It is known for leather bags with embossed motifs, most famously the Guardian Angel bag, which entered the permanent collection of MoMA in 2006.
| Base | Rotterdam, Netherlands |
|---|---|
| Signature | Embossed Guardian Angel bags |
| Recognition | MoMA permanent collection (2006) |
| Production | European leather workshops |
| Website | vliegervandam.com |
What is Vlieger & Vandam?
Vlieger & Vandam is a Dutch accessories label created by Carolien and Hein, a husband and wife team working from a home studio in Rotterdam. Neither trained in fashion, and the brand grew out of design experiments including wool felt hats before focusing on bags.
Products and positioning
The brand describes itself as a Dutch luxury label known for interdisciplinary design and its embossing technique. Its best known collection, Guardian Angel, features guns and knives embossed into the bag surface, a tongue-in-cheek response to media coverage of street violence. The Guardian Angel bag entered the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art in New York in 2006. Other collections, such as Camee, used minimal felt portraits.
Bags are made in specialised leather workshops in Europe using leathers from Dutch, Spanish and Italian tanneries.
- Crossbody bags, clutches and totes
- Belt bags and backpacks
- Wallets, pouches and straps
Distribution
The label has been sold through boutiques worldwide and today sells through its own online store with international shipping.
Why it matters
Vlieger & Vandam shows how a conceptual design idea can become a lasting signature product for a small independent accessories brand.
Frequently asked questions
Where is Vlieger & Vandam from?
Vlieger & Vandam is a Dutch brand created by a design duo based in Rotterdam.
What is Vlieger & Vandam known for?
The brand is known for leather bags with embossed gun and knife motifs, such as the Guardian Angel bag held by MoMA.