Skip to content

Your cart is empty

Lacking inspiration?
Come discover the iconic lines of Le Tanneur.

Hello,
visiting from

To ensure the best experience in our store, we recommend you to visit Le Tanneur .

Madeleine, The inheritor of asavoir-faire 

If Madeleine is the House’s new ambassadress, it’s thanks to the creative minds and hands that conceived this line, but also – and above all – thanks to the leather used. The finest that one can find: drummed bullcalf, a rare leather, prepared and conceived in an artisanal manner, and which our designers took great care to highlight when creating this line. The large hobo is the perfect illustration of their efforts, as each side is constituted of a single, large
piece of leather. A pleasure for those who brought it to life in the workshop.


Here, we speak with Victor, the master leather craftsman in our Mans atelier, who worked on Madeleine. 

What, in particular, do you appreciate about the ‘Made in France’ label?



The notion of savoir-faire.
It has always been present, and I truly enjoy preserving it. Doing things with one’s hands, with the least machines possible. Using a paring knife, a foot knife, cutting by hand. This artisanal aspect appeals to me, but it is slowly being lost. I saw the artisans having difficulty being able to live off of their craft. I even asked myself the question a few years ago: am I doing the right thing by continuing in this profession? Thankfully, there are projects like the Madeleine line carried out by Le Tanneur, for which assembly must be done piece by piece. This allows us to preserve our craftsmanship and continue to practice it.

What are the challenges to overcome when constructing a bag?



The dying of the edges is rather technical. To obtain a good result, it requires a great deal of preparation, a good undercoat as well as a qualitative dye, and it’s very complex. I also like the final assembly. Preparing the bag with the lining, placing the lining in the bag and completing the final stitches. By far the most technical part. If it’s not gone well, the bag is completely ruined. A true challenge. When you see the bag being put together, taking shape, becoming beautiful, it’s truly a source of pride.

Are all the steps completed by a single person?



It depends on the model, but we’re often many to work on a piece, notably in the production stage. Each person tends to a specific part. It’s a true team effort. As for myself, I’m specialized in the bag’s development, creating the models and prototypes. I then train the production teams in the atelier and remain available to them, should they need me.

Whatare drummed bullcalf leather’s specificities? What makes this an exceptional leather?



Drummed bullcalf leather is well known as it is used by the finest French Houses. It’s a leather with considerable thickness, and is very little coated when tanned, leaving its grain naturally beautifully and resistant. This ensures it will age well over time and develop a beautiful patina. It comes from a tannery in the southwest that possesses a traditional savoir-faire and renowned expertise in this leather. It’s a beautiful material with a natural touch. You can immediately sense it when holding the piece.

The Making of Madeleine in Our Workshops