BLEU DE CHAUFFE BAGS: A REQUIREMENT OF QUALITY WITHOUT COMPROMISE, FROM RAW MATERIALS TO FINISHED GOODS
Right from the start, Bleu de Chauffe has endeavoured to be a part of the tradition of high-quality French leather goods, by creating unparalleled artisanal objects in its Aveyron workshop, and by using the best leathers, canvases, materials, and separate parts, produced only in France and neighbouring countries.
A VEGETABLE TANNED FRENCH LEATHER
Most contemporary leathers go through a mineral tanning process, that is cheaper and allows for a quicker stabilization of colours. In order to do this, however, extremely polluting and potentially toxic agents, such as chromium and other heavy metals and chemical products, are used.
Vegetable tanning is an ancient process that uses natural tannins from trees and plants (oak, acacia, chestnut, mimosa…). This process may be longer and more onerous; however, it is much more environmentally safe, and gives a more authentic appearance to the leathers that, as they age, acquire a beautiful natural patina.
Bleu de Chauffe is a company concerned with the reduction of its ecological footprint at every stage of production. Therefore, we have made the choice to use only vegetable tanned leathers out of concern for the environment as well as for the superior quality of the product and the unique appearance this process gives. We do this because each Bleu de Chauffe leather bag is designed to last.
It goes without saying that we have decided to collaborate with tanneries situated near our workshop and that share our environmental concerns, and are renowned for the excellence of their work. The skins that we use come from Limousin and are tanned in France by companies who specialize in vegetable tanning.
CANVAS, METALLIC PIECES, FELT, ZIPPERS: FROM FRANCE OR NEIGHBOURING COUNTRIES
Our requirements of quality remain the same with regards to the companies who supply us with the canvas for our bags, the metallic pieces, as well as the felt or zippers that we use in the creation of all our items.
Finding local suppliers is paramount: if French suppliers of a sufficiently good quality cannot be found, we always seek out companies that are geographically close by, such as those from neighbouring countries, and from the United Kingdom, who are well-known for the quality of their products.
Our canvases come from two French manufacturers (coated canvas) and an English manufacturer (waxed canvases made from organic cotton). The metallic pieces come from French, Belgian, and Italian workshops. The wool felt is produced near Rouen, and zippers in the north of France.
A HIGH-QUALITY ARTISANAL PRODUCTION
Thanks to the quality of all of their parts, Bleu de Chauffe leather bags and accessories are thus products of a very high-quality. The careful and detailed work of our artisans makes them exceptional. Each leather or canvas bag is made entirely by hand by a single craftsperson who alone is responsible for producing the bag, and who signs the inside of the bag upon completion. Our bags are not industrial products made on assembly lines. Each craftsperson has their own way of creating their bags with their own hands at each stage of creation: assembly, stitching, dyeing of the edges and seams.
With the exception of the tanning of the leather, the entire production of the bags, from their conception up to the finished product, takes place in our workshop. This allows us to perfectly oversee every step of the bags’ creation, as well as guarantee quality control.
AN IMPECCABLE QUALITY CONTROL THANKS TO A SINGLE PRODUCTION SITE
Since the entire production process, quality control, and customer relations take place in our Aveyronais workshop, we are able to supervise all aspects of the job every step of the way. Quality control is done daily during each step of production and is particularly meticulous for finished goods. Not a single item leaves our workshop without having been inspected in detail, thus guaranteeing its future owner a French canvas or leather bag without flaws and of an impeccable quality.
Each bag and accessory is a unique item, the work of a craftsperson, made in collaboration with our suppliers who share our high standards. It is the choice of a handcrafted and high-quality, artisanal product, Made in France, that is sustainable and respectful of the environment.