Upcycled Fashion on Rue Dansaert: How Komrads Is Powering a Greener Brussels Economy

Between empty retail units on Rue Dansaert and still-rising rents in Ixelles, one brand is bucking Brussels’ cautious business mood this summer. Komrads, the eco-sneaker label launched just five years ago by Ghent-born entrepreneur Mark Verhaegen and now headquartered in the city’s edgy Canal District, hit a milestone last week: it hired its 30th local employee, expanding production as sales climbed to a record €4.2 million in the first half of 2026.

Why Green Entrepreneurs Matter in 2026

After a spring of economic sluggishness—unemployment in Brussels city stands at 15.2% according to Statbel figures—evidence of real private sector job creation is rare. Komrads has stood out: its factory, in a former textile warehouse in Anderlecht, is one of the first in the country to fully manufacture from post-consumer waste streams. This matters as city officials, led by Brussels Minister for the Economy Barbara Trachte, scramble to meet ambitious climate and employment targets by 2030. With major global brands like Delvaux and Neuhaus struggling to maintain their local footprint, homegrown outfits such as Komrads offer a small but important signpost for a new Brussels economy.

Verhaegen’s team partners with Recy-K, the local circular economy hub on Quai Fernand Demets, to process the city’s discarded rubber and textiles into trademark chunky-soled trainers. This year, Komrads signed a deal with the Brussels Metro to upcycle expired XL Metro tickets—over 100,000 tickets already shredded and repurposed into insoles. Showrooms on Rue Dansaert and in the sustainable goods pop-up at Tour & Taxis have reported brisk sales since April, especially as the early summer heatwave—temperatures hit 38°C in mid-June—drives demand for ventilated, cruelty-free footwear.

Business Data Points: Prices, Wages, and Expansion

While many retail outlets slowed hiring in Q2, Komrads increased its Brussels payroll by 25% since January. Full-time packers earn €2,100 gross per month, a notch above the city’s median for factory labor, while store staff in Dansaert are on €16.50/hour. A pair of Komrads sneakers now retails for €120—almost double the low-end high street competition, but shoppers say the sustainability label justifies the jump. Verhaegen said via written statement that the company aims to open a second showroom, possibly on Avenue Louise, by October. Meanwhile, Brussels Invest & Export has shortlisted Komrads for its Green Business Award, with results due on 14 September.

City-wide, commercial rents remain high: prime retail space on Boulevard Anspach is still fetching upwards of €280 per square metre per year, according to JLL’s Spring 2026 survey. Vacancy rates are ticking up, standing at 9.4% in the city centre this June—compared with 7.1% pre-pandemic. But Verhaegen’s strategy, anchoring in affordable converted industrial sites and tapping into city recycling networks, offers a road map for cost-conscious startups.

For Belgians hoping to follow in Verhaegen’s footsteps, city officials highlight new €3.6 million in low-interest green loans via Hub.brussels, open for micro-enterprises from this month. Komrads itself grew out of such a grant in 2022. Aspiring founders are urged to visit the Hub on Rue Royale or sign up for its July 18 workshop at Molenbeek’s LaVallée creative cluster. In a Belgian summer dominated by heat warnings, green jobs, and anxious forecasts, the Komrads phenomenon is more than a headline—it’s a rare bright spot for locals betting on Brussels’ economic transition.