This French bag is designed to last
It took five years to develop the latest Fauré Le Page all-leather bag collection, and it’s easy to see why.
Inspired by the earliest leather cuirasses in history, the Ladies First Armure Leather is a picture of strength and sophistication. The signature scale pattern covering the entire body of the bag is fully embroidered on leather—a magnificent feat, if you think about it.
“So you understand now why it took us five years to develop this material. We have suffered a bit,” Fauré Le Page owner and creative director Augustin de Buffévent jokingly told Lifestyle at the Ladies First Armure Leather launch. “We are not into the fashion field. The idea is to make some long-lasting items. And I’m so proud when I see customers who are carrying the same bag for 10 years.”
That said, the latest collection is the embodiment of chic. True to its name, the collection puts ladies first: The boxy Armure Leather pieces’ sleek edges have a softness to them that makes them timeless yet fresh. The delicate shimmer of the gold thread provides a stunning contrast that brings it seamlessly from day to night.
Striking details like the barrel clasp and Brandenburg shoulder pad make these bags a delightful addition to any woman’s arsenal. And the surprisingly light handbag’s interior is also surprisingly spacious, with multiple compartments for storing essential—or secret—weapons.
With 300 years of archives backing the royal armorer-turned-luxury leather goods brand, De Buffévent emphasized the importance of finding the right balance between the past, the present, and the future.
Selling the holsters
For De Buffévent, everything is a matter of recreating: Look too longingly to the past, and you might as well open a museum. Look too intently into the future, and you may lose sight of your roots. He explained that it’s about finding a constant balance.
“What we’ve done with Fauré Le Page is we have removed the weapons from the holsters and we are selling the holsters,” he said, explaining the brand’s origins in gunsmithing. This explains why, unlike many of its contemporaries, none of their products come with a chain strap: “We don’t want to make any noise. When you are a fighter, you don’t want to make noise.”
The key to inspired reinvention, he continued, is to “feed yourself.”
“Throw your mobile away in the ocean and go to the museum. Read books. Go to cinema. Travel. Meet people. Go to a concert, go to the theater. Feed yourself,” he said. “It’s like planting a seed. Something would appear one day.”
When it comes to ensuring the brand’s relevance and longevity in an ever-evolving market, De Buffévent compared it to love. Without reinvention, passion may fizzle. “[And] you only do well with what you are passionate with,” he said.
“The other important thing in the creative process is to meet people and mix the craftsmanship. I work as chef d’orchestre because I try to gather talents and make those talents work together,” he added. “My work is to make cocktails. So you put a bit of yourself, of your ideas, you put the talent of someone else, some different technique, you shake, and you will get something.”
According to him, what Faure Le Page is essentially creating is a dialogue between generations.
“I often say that Faure Le Page is a house. So basically in a house, you put a family. This is something that is very important. I work in family. We decided to come to Philippines because we are meeting many families. And we are distributed by a family,” he continued, expressing hopes for one day collaborating with local craftsmen as an aside.
As families, De Buffevent said they share the same values. “Long-lasting items, long-lasting views. We don’t work for ourselves, we work for the next generation. And tomorrow is important, but what is more important is the day after tomorrow.”
