VIRGINIE MOROBÉ
A Love Letter to Leather
Imagine living in a world where the main material is leather, eco and only the best quality, where elegance is rule number one and all you see is great design. This is the world Virginie Morobé has created.
Ten years ago, she founded her namesake brand together with her husband, David. In these ten years, Morobé has grown into a major online presence, with two boutiques in Belgium and a recent opening in Saint-Tropez. It has become the go-to destination for occasionwear. Do you need beautiful heels for a party? Go to Morobé. Dressed-up shoes for work? Go to Morobé. A sandal more refined than simple slippers in summer? Go to Morobé.
Let's make this in leather
When Virginie saw me wearing our signature knitted collar, the first thing she said was: “Why don’t you make this in leather?” I proposed we make it together. And that’s how our conversation started.
A few months later, our collars have arrived. Today we meet in Morobé’s Antwerp flagship store to talk about Virginie, her inspiration, insights and drive.
An eye for detail
An eye for detail
Virginie’s love for design began at an early age. In her childhood diary, she declared at ten years old her desire to work in fashion. “I’ve always been drawn to beauty and creativity,” she says. Shoes, specifically, captivated her. From her mother’s recollection, she was already insistent on the type of shoes she wanted by the age of three, always drawn to the ones with details and flowers, making shoe shopping for school uniforms a “disaster.”
The path towards Morobé
Her path into design was unexpected. While studying law, she took a student job as a hostess at a shoe fair. By the second day, she had already moved into the showroom, selling shoes. Five years later, she was part of the design team, learning every aspect of production and materials. “It all happened organically. But from day one, I knew… this was it.”
Eighteen years after first entering the industry, Virginie and David launched Morobé in 2015. By then, she had seen the full spectrum of the business, from sales to production, and wanted to show the world her vision of shoes.
Her design philosophy? Comfort and beauty are inseparable. “The secret is in the last,” she explains, referring to the mechanical form shaped like a human foot that serves as the starting point for every shoe. If the cambrure is too steep, your feet hurt; if it’s gradual, the shoe supports you. Comfort is design.
Morobé’s collections are instantly recognizable through their visual language: strong, feminine, elegant. Virginie continues to draw inspiration from everywhere, interiors, architecture, colors on vintage prints, the way her grandmother’s Leonard dress combined tones. “I don’t want to be like other brands. I want to be Morobé,” she says. For her, Morobé represents this: fierce, fashionable, self-conscious, playful, with a sense of humor.
“I don’t want to be like other brands. I want to be Morobé.”
“I don’t want to be like other brands. I want to be Morobé.”
The Leather Collar
Our eco-leather collar collaboration reflects that same ethos. Transformed from our casual knitted original into a leather statement piece, it becomes a piece of jewelry, structured and elegant. Black stretch leather with silver, chocolate brown with gold, each collar carries both identities, The TwentyFour Six and Morobé, unified through our signature clip system.
“The TwentyFour Six has this very typical item, the colorful knitted collars you made a while ago. I saw you walking around with it, and the girls at work in the Morobé office were wearing it, and all the cool kids in Belgium were wearing it. I remember saying to you, ‘June, why don’t you make it in leather?’”
The wool versions are laid-back and perfect against the cold. In leather, it becomes a real piece, like a necklace or jewelry.
“I would wear it as a statement piece. Because it’s stretch leather, it adapts around your neck and gives warmth too. Imagine wearing a white tank top, jeans, and a black leather bomber, with the leather collar from 246 and Morobé, it is a statement. You won’t go unnoticed.”
Watch and listen to our conversation.
Watch and listen to our conversation.
Q&A With Virginie
Q&A With Virginie
June: How do you find the balance between comfort and design?
Virginie: It’s always about balance. The things that live in your head aren’t always possible to produce, so you have to make small adjustments to keep the factory going while staying close to your original design. It needs to be possible to produce because our shoes are handmade. There’s a lot of hand stitching and hand cutting involved. It’s not an atelier, but our shoes are almost atelier-level pieces. We can’t produce 200 pairs a day, it’s impossible. And that’s why they’re so qualitative and beautiful.
Running such a big brand must be intense. What helps you disconnect and recharge?
Running such a big brand must be intense. What helps you disconnect and recharge?
Sports. I empty my head by exercising, running, HIIT, weight training. It’s not just to look good, it’s for my mental health. We all have stress, being mothers, entrepreneurs, friends, wives. My only way to balance that is to move. Walking, being in nature, working out, that’s what keeps me grounded.
You mentioned your daughter. What advice do you live by and tell her?
You mentioned your daughter. What advice do you live by and tell her?
To stay true to herself. To listen to her inner voice and not evolve just because others do. I remind her, my friends, and even myself every day, to work hard, be the best at what you want to do, but stay close to who you are. Don’t let anyone influence you negatively. Stick to the plan. Listen to your inner voice.
That brings us to your recent big step, going international and opening a store in Saint-Tropez by listening to your inner voice. Why Saint-Tropez?
That brings us to your recent big step, going international and opening a store in Saint-Tropez by listening to your inner voice. Why Saint-Tropez?
I’ve been going there since I was five. I feel extremely at home there, sometimes even more than in Ghent. After ten years of Morobé, I realized Saint-Tropez might have shaped Morobé, not the other way around. When you look at our colors, terracotta, ochre, Bordeaux, and our style, we’re good at holidaying and occasion wear. Those soft, warm hues are the colors of Saint-Tropez. So it made perfect sense that our first international store would be there.
Is there a next dream destination?
Is there a next dream destination?
Yes.
Would you tell us where?
Would you tell us where?
No. (laughs)
If the sky were the limit, where do you see Morobé in ten years?
If the sky were the limit, where do you see Morobé in ten years?
World domination.
Good answer. As we are The TwentyFour Six and not 24/7, we always love to ask, what’s your ideal day off?
Good answer. As we are The TwentyFour Six and not 24/7, we always love to ask, what’s your ideal day off?
My ideal day off is waking up and going slow. No rush. Slowly drinking coffee, going to a sports class, walking my dog in the forest, being in nature. Having no schedule. If someone calls, “Do you want to go there?” “Yes, let’s go.” No agenda, everything slowed down.
That’s so nice. Simple and calm. I think everyone loves that. Thank you, Virginie, for sharing your story with us.
That’s so nice. Simple and calm. I think everyone loves that. Thank you, Virginie, for sharing your story with us.
With pleasure. I’m really happy we did this collaboration. I love it. I think it will make a lot of women feel beautiful. I can’t wait to see what’s next. I’m happy, June, to be a little part of your world.
And we’re so happy to be part of yours. Thank you, Virginie.
And we’re so happy to be part of yours. Thank you, Virginie.
Thank you, for the trust.
