LEATHERWORK, A THOUSAND YEARS OF SAVOIR-FAIRE.
Animal skins have always been used in the manufacturing of accessories and clothing. For example, in Ancient Greece, leather garments were used to clothe horsemen. But it’s the Middle Ages that witnessed a surge in leatherworking, particularly in Southern Europe and the Maghreb region of Northern Africa, due to the growth of craftsmanship techniques and the emergence of knighthood.
However, it was the 19th century that marked the clearest turning point in the history of leatherworking. Thanks to technical revolutions and the unprecedented development of industry, fashion was transformed which led to new ways of living and dressing. It was also during this time that craftsmanship became synonymous of luxury and looked to differentiated itself from the rise of mass consumerism.
SADDLERY-LEATHERGOODS, SKILLS AND STYLE.
The leatherwork techniques makes it possible to manufacture accessories… while the saddlery techniques uses other ones, more traditional, which allow an intimate approach of leather: the saddle stitch seams, made with a linen beeswax thread, creased lines or rounded sanded edges, delicately painted then heated to a smooth finish. All these steps are details that considerably improve the finished piece and allows to create accessories that are as resistant as they are delicate.
All of this means that saddlery-leatherwork is first and foremost the relationship between the craftsman and a material: leather. That's why, without leather, saddlery-leatherwork would not exist (the craftsman being above all a leather specialist…)
COLORS, THE POWER OF THE UNCONSCIOUS.
When you look at the leather accessories market, you realize that most objects are devoid of color... as if our accessories had to be dull and tasteless! Yet, colors hold power: they convey codes, influence our moods, our behavior, our environment and even our imaginations. Colors have a meaning, which is symbolic… and speaks to the unconscious.
It then seems essential to us to place colors at the center of creation, because contrary to what we might think: craftsmanship is rooted in aesthetic sensitivity and not just practicality. So, if colors have the power to impact the way we live and think, they are above all an expression of our own way of looking at the world: the calm of blue, the optimism of yellow, the wisdom of green, the dynamism of orange or the dreaminess of purple...
CRAFTSMANSHIP, A SUSTAINABLE AND REASONABLE BUSINESS MODEL.
Craftsmanship has always been a symbol of authenticity, meticulousness and quality. It's also essential to remember that at the heart of every civilization and tradition around the world there have always been craftsmen. They were the ones who built pyramids, constructed ships and even created cities. From Antiquity to the present day, craftsmanship has undergone many changes, and, like everyone else, has have its fair share of ups and downs.
On the positive side, the industrialization of our societies has made it possible to meet the growing demand for comfort, but on the negative side, it has also led to the scarcity, and even the loss, of these precious savoir-faire practices. However, we are convinced that craftsmanship can meet the economic, political and cultural challenges of our time: respect for human beings, animal welfare or even environmental protection. Therefore, it is not a question of turning back the clock but rather of learning lessons from the past in order to create, together, a more inspiring future.