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With our 10th anniversary approaching, I found myself taking a rare walk down Memory Lane. I don’t usually look back—it’s simply not in my nature. I’ve always known only one direction: forward.
Building MOROBÉ, day in and day out, means always looking ahead. As a team, we live in the future. What others experience as the present is often already part of our past. We design collections a year in advance, shoot campaigns ten months before they’re seen, and scout store locations—like our next in Saint-Tropez—two years before opening the doors.
That forward-thinking mindset is the only way to grow a fashion brand: by staying ahead with unconventional designs and high-tech innovation. At the same time, we hold tight to craftsmanship, quality, and purpose. You have to be at the top of your game—every single day—to stay relevant and make a lasting impact, and remain meaningful to your audience.
Ten years of MOROBÉ feels like a beautiful paradox—both humbling and empowering. It began with a dream—to create a shoe collection that showcased my aesthetic vision. The name MOROBÉ came from the suggestion of external graphic designers. They felt it sounded international, a little exotic. But when I saw my own name in the logo proposals, I hesitated. What if it didn’t work out? I feared I might dishonor the family name. In those early days, I couldn’t separate myself from the brand. Now, I see it differently. MOROBÉ has grown into a name I no longer see as mine alone. It’s what’s stamped on our insoles, printed on our shoebox lids. Over the years, Virginie and MOROBÉ have become two distinct entities—closely connected, yet independent.
I don’t romanticize entrepreneurship. Every business journey has its highs and lows. I’ve missed moments with our daughter when she was little. I’ve had to turn down friends’ invitations. I’ve faced the stress of financial uncertainty in the beginning, navigated working alongside my husband, and seen our designs copied in our own hometown. These moments were hard.
But the list of blessings is so much longer.
They’ve shaped me—not just as a woman, but as a person. We’ve built something that has a recognizable signature style and is respected within the industry. But this decade is not just my story. It’s about the community of people who made MOROBÉ what it is today. Every day, I get to do what I love most: create accessories that make women feel more beautiful, more confident. That’s my way of giving back. That’s always been my purpose—and it always will be.
And the greatest blessing of all is that I’ve been able to do this alongside my husband and business partner, David Damman. Without you, MOROBÉ would simply not exist. Looking back, maybe it should have been called MOROBÉ-DAMMAN—though, I must admit, it sounds a little less sexy… You’ve pushed me to keep dreaming, and with our Saint-Tropez store opening in June 2025, we’re putting the cherry on top of a ten-year-old cake.
Your vision—New Wave, Old School—is not just a creative compass, it has inspired the culture we’ve built together. Our team is more than a group of employees; they’ve become our friends. Our chosen family. To say it in the words that matter most to you: you will never walk alone. And because of you, neither will we.
VIRGINIE Morobé, FOUNDER AND DESIGNER
As long as Virginie Morobé can remember, shoes have been at the heart of her world. What began as a childhood fascination evolved into a nearly two-decade thriving career through the many layers of the industry, from behind-the-scenes production to perfecting her role as designer. That journey arrived at a defining milestone in 2015, when she shaped her experience into a world for others to step into, co-founding her eponymous label with her partner in life and business, David Damman—MOROBÉ.
Headquartered in Antwerp, MOROBÉ has established an international reputation for its marriage of modern elegance and exceptional craftsmanship, shaping a wardrobe that celebrates the evolving spirit of femininity—gracefully moving from evening silhouettes to laid-back resort wear. Each creation is a heartfelt manifestation of its founder’s instinctive approach to design—consistently driven by Virginie’s guiding coup-de-coeur question: ‘Would I wear this myself?’
This deeply personal standard propels MOROBÉ’s unwavering pursuit of excellence and innovation—continually pushing the boundaries of Belgium’s fashion landscape.
Marking its first decade, MOROBÉ stands as more than a brand, it has become a story of vision, perseverance, and the beauty of following one’s purpose.
In 2016, MOROBÉ made its first steps beyond its home market, with its showroom debut in Paris. Virginie recalls loading a van filled with shoes and furniture, departing with a heart full of nervous excitement of beginning anew. The first showroom wasn’t just about presenting a collection; it marked the dawn of an international dialogue for a young, independent Belgian brand—one whose voice had already found its foundation locally and was now ready, and eager, to speak to a global audience.
Entering the international market is never a linear path. There’s an intimate vulnerability in presenting your product because it’s more than showcasing your designs. It requires a constant rearticulation of the brand’s purpose, and at times, because of her deep personal involvement, Virginie found herself reaffirming her own role behind it. Yet, through this process, something valuable began to grow—the first signs of recognition and the first signs of trust.
Looking back, what once felt like a courageous step into the unknown for a young brand in its formative years became a subtle catalyst—where the contours of MOROBÉ’s signature identity gained an early definition. It was anchored in Virginie’s creativity and the belief that a distinctive voice—no matter how small at first—can find its rightful place on the global stage, and ultimately, belong there.
Holidays have always been central to the heart of MOROBÉ. In 2016, the brand introduced the robien Sandal, an elegant, timeless slide sandal that promptly became a true hallmark of the brand’s identity. Its now-iconic wickerwork brooch design that intricately combines three woven straps, became synonymous with the MOROBÉ name.
Initially launched in a palette of white, camel, and black, the sandal was met with immediate enthusiasm in the showrooms, generating strong interests of both buyers and press alike. Reflecting on the Robien, Virginie says, ‘The Robien represents the very essence of who we are. It’s a design that has grown with us, season after season, and continues to define what Morobé stands for.’
As the Robien’s success grew, it reinvented itself and gradually evolved into a broader family of reinterpretations ranging from low-profile heels to more sculptural heights, now know as the Ruth, the Romy and the Rita—each made with the same artisan care and attention to detail that has come to define MOROBÉ’s craftsmanship. The Robien, in particular, designed to endure and transcend fleeting trends, set a new standard for the fashion industry’s understanding of a contemporary holiday wardrobe, establishing MOROBÉ as a leading name in resort wear.
With its confident defined square toe and sculptural fin heel—a sleek wedge-like MOROBÉ interpretation of a classic high heel—the MIMI sandal made its debut in December 2019. First introduced in timeless white, black, and laminated leather, it acts as a symbolic testament of MOROBÉ’s ability to redefine and amplify the evolving spirit of modern femininity.
‘The moment a woman steps into a beautifully made high heel, everything shifts,’ Virginie says. ‘Her posture, her poise—she stands taller. She’s more confident. That’s the power of a MOROBÉ shoe.’
Each MIMI sandal is the result of months of intensive prototyping, where every millimetre is reconsidered—from the custom-developed lasts to the 3D-engineered heels and tailored hardware. ‘We test it on a true-to-size 39.5 sample so I can feel every detail myself,’ Virginie explains. Produced in Portugal and Italy, the MIMI is crafted with the finest materials, ensuring a level of artistry that mass production simply can’t replicate.
What followed mirrored the journey of earlier carry-over style icons like the Robien—whose strength lies in continual reinvention: new colourways, seasonal reinterpretations in new materials, playful tri-color compositions. An yet, at its core, the MIMI remains unchanged—recognizable, empowering, and evolving in step with the women who wear it.
In the early years of MOROBÉ, Virginie, as a perfectionist by nature, faced some moments of self-doubt, even amid its success. But the greatest challenge came during the COVID-19 pandemic. After years of building her business, Virginie watched as stores close and the world go into lockdown. Overwhelmed by uncertainty, the stress even drove her to pick up smoking again after eight years.
Initially, it seemed impossible, but within two weeks, a remarkable turnaround began. Online sales began to soar, as people embraced "retail therapy" during the lockdown. Prior to the pandemic, the B2B wholesale model had been a growing concern for CFO David, who questioned its long-term viability. The lockdown gave the final push for the company to pivot, shifting from B2B to B2C—cutting out the middleman an going directly to the consumer. Despite the fear and the uncertainty, this period turned out to be one of MOROBÉ’s most successful—bringing the brand closer to its customers than ever before.
Emerging from the travel restrictions of the pandemic, MOROBÉ pursued a series of pop-up boutiques as a way to stay close to its audience—serving as a valuable trial phase before the brand settled into a more permanent home. That moment arrived in April 2022, with the opening of a flagship store in Knokke, located on the Belgian coast.
Designed in collaboration with Belgian architect Glenn Sestig, the store is affectionately referred to as ‘The Seaside Apartment.’ Rather than a typical retail space, it was thoughtfully designed as an intimate extension of Morobé’s founders—a place that felt more like their personal apartment than a commercial store.
With sharp geometry, subtle nods to the 60s and 70s, and a harmonious play of light, color, and textures—including organic materials and suedes—the boutique envelops visitors in a all-encompassing atmosphere that exudes MOROBÉ’s symbolic language in every detail. The Seaside Apartment evolved into a sanctuary—an intimate space where visitors can fully immerse themselves in the brand’s story, experiencing its soul and craftsmanship in a way that resonates on a personal level.
Still humbled by the momentum of opening the flagship store in Knokke, Morobé hadn’t originally planned to expand to Antwerp—Belgian’s fashion capital—but fate had other ideas. Everything changed when David came home one day with news of a majestic townhouse that had suddenly become available.
Mirroring its coastal counterpart, The Townhouse was brought to life in close collaboration with Glenn Sestig Architects. The interior blends together MOROBÉ’s signature aesthetic codes: raw concrete surfaces, sculptural geometry, and architectural features that subtly echo the brand’s wickerwork logo throughout the space. The structural clarity is complemented by soft, tactile elements—plush carpets and a ‘green zone,’ filled with tropical plants—offering visitors a moment of calm in the heart of the city. More than a store, as its alias ‘The Townhouse’ suggests, it was designed as a warm, welcoming retreat, exuding the quiet confidence of a private residence rather than a traditional retail space.
What if MOROBÉ could live beyond the shoe? For years, the idea of expanding beyond footwear lingered in the background. ‘I simply didn’t have the time,’ says Virginie, who still devotes herself full-time to designing collections, managing the stores, and shaping the visual world of the brand. But at a certain point, in August 2023, the vision matured, and MOROBÉ introduced its very first bag line.
Bags felt like a natural extension of MOROBÉ’s vocabulary: objects that can not only carry essentials, but character as well. Produced in Portugal, the accessories uphold the same commitment to craftsmanship as the footwear. Nothing is off-the-shelf; every clasp, buckle and silhouette is tailor-made with each prototype engineered as a study in balance between function and form.
The evolved into a versatile family of handbags, intuitively designed to support a woman through the rhythm of her day: the Voyager for weekends away, the compact Mini Capeau for a day-to-day ease, the Claxon for an evening out. Every model is held to Virginie’s gold standard:‘If I wouldn’t wear it, it doesn’t make the cut.’ For her, this instinct remains the most honest measure of authenticity as MOROBÉ continues to grow.
First introduced on the Robien Sandal, the wickerwork brooch has grown into one of MOROBÉ’s most recognizable signatures—as a symbol of both heritage and innovation. Unlike labels that rely heavily on name recognition, MOROBÉ has built its presence and identity through a distinctive design language, with the brooch serving as subtle, yet unmistakable emblem.
What began as a decorative accent has continuously reinvented itself, finding new expressions in small leather goods, belts, jewelry, and even becoming integral to the architectural DNA of MOROBÉ’s boutiques. It connects the different collections together with subtle consistency while allowing Virginie to articulate a broader lifestyle vision under the MOROBÉ name.
The brooch is no longer merely an ornament; it has become a symbol of craft, storytelling, and timeless reinvention. Even in the brand’s visual communication, it surfaces in unexpected, dreamlike forms—reminding us of that for ten years, MOROBÉ has been doing more than creating collections, it has built its own universe where every detail invites you to become part of its story.
By the time Virginie launched MOROBÉ, she had already accumulated nearly two decades of experience in the footwear industry. Now, ten years into building her own brand, MOROBÉ opens its first international flagship store in a place that has shaped her far more intimately than any other city in the world—Saint-Tropez.
For Virginie, the opening of this boutique is as much a personal homecoming, as it signifies a new beginning. Her father once lived in Saint-Tropez, and after spending countless childhood summers there, she now recognizes how deeply the city has influenced her life and her creativity—often more than she actually realized at the time. Her aesthetic grew alongside of her. ’I was a fashion-sensitive little girl, watching glamorous, beautifully dressed women parade along the port at dusk,’ she reflects, ‘Even the city’s architecture left its mark on me—each facade is assigned a specific colour by law, creating a color palette I always find myself gravitating towards. Saint-Tropez, and all the memories I made there, continue to inform and inspire everything I create—even in the subtlest ways.’
Opening the doors to its first boutique outside of its home country, MOROBÉ’s decision is only partially guided by sentiment. Saint-Tropez—known for its legendary glamour and golden hours—stands as one of the world’s most quintessential resort escapes. Set between the turquoise waters, sun-soaked terraces and its iconic pin parasols, it’s a place where summer seems to last forever. There couldn’t be a more fitting backdrop for MOROBÉ’s next chapter—which, over the past decade, has carved out its own niche in the world of occasion and resort wear.
As the company grew, MOROBÉ has rooted itself in the mantra ‘new wave, old school,’ a philosophy that reflects the foundation of its business approach and shapes every aspect of its savoir-faire. It reflects MOROBÉ’s unique position as a craftsmanship-driven brand that transcends ephemeral trends in an ever-evolving, fast-paced digital landscape.
Ever since the inception of MOROBÉ, the real-life shopping experience has been integral to its vision. In recent years, this focus has translated into the opening of two flagship stores in Knokke and in Antwerp. Designed with the artistry and care that define the brand, the MOROBÉ stores consider every detail to create an atmosphere that feels personal and inviting, ensuring visitors feel at ease rather than overwhelmed. The intention is to leave a memorable, lasting impression of both the brand and the space it inhabits.
Set amongst some of Saint-Tropez’s most iconic streets, the new MOROBÉ boutique—known as the Riviera Residence—finds its home at 30 Rue Gambetta. Designed in close collaboration with Glenn Sestig Architects, the space builds on the formal qualities of its sister locations: the balnéaire serenity of the Seaside Apartment in Knokke and the metropolitan sophistication of the Antwerp Townhouse, reinterpreted through the lens of the local Mediterranean spirit and textures. A palette of rich earth tones and natural textures brings the warmth and luminosity of the Côte d’Azur indoors, while a sand-hued, ripple-patterned carpet flows gently through the boutique like a soft tide. The sculptural geometry gives the store’s layout a certain gravitas—elevating each product to be perceived as an objet d’art. This thoughtful execution is balanced by an inviting sense of intimacy; one which has come to define the MOROBÉ in-store experience. The store unfolds like a living room, and echoes the slower rhythms of Southern life. It offers a tactile, personal experience—an antidote to the overstimulation of conventional retail, and an invitation to retreat the midday heat, slow down, and and immerse yourself fully in the brand’s identity.
DESIGNED BY MOROBÉ
PRINTED IN BELGIUM
© MOROBÉ