Initially specializing in saddlery and ornamental collars for oxen and horses, which were studded at the time for traditional agricultural festivals, Maison Laffargue gradually became a benchmark in French leather goods. It was at the end of the 19th century, when the Basque coast became a popular seaside destination for high society, that Joseph-Daniel Laffargue had the idea of ​​opening his own shop in the center of Saint-Jean-de-Luz. He initially offered belts for men and women, and quickly expanded to include bags and wallets. " For the time, this choice was bold and innovative ," acknowledges Stéphanie Laffargue, the company's current CEO. Since 2014, she and her sister Sophie, now president, have represented the fourth generation to lead the family business. While the sisters wish to maintain the continuity of the company's history, they are also committed to innovation to grow the business.

Between excellent know-how and modernity

To achieve this, at the end of 2017, they opened a new 350m² workshop in Ascain, a village located between Saint-Jean-de-Luz and the Spanish border. The number of employees gradually increased from 18 to 56. Five more hires are planned for 2022. " Everything is done by hand; we use very few machines. Our main lever for increasing production is therefore recruitment," adds the managing director. To support these new hires, the organization was restructured to improve productivity and efficiency, while maintaining artisanal expertise. An e-commerce website was also launched in March 2018 to provide the company with a new avenue for growth.

But for the company's leaders, this modernization of operations must remain focused on preserving the company's expertise. The leather used comes from two certified tanneries, including Maison Laffargue, a Living Heritage Company (EPV) . " Our partners share the same values, the same respect for artisanal know-how, preferably local and, in all cases, French. We work as much as possible within a short supply chain ," emphasizes Stéphanie Laffargue. The leather arrives at the workshop treated and dyed before being cut. Once prepared, the various pieces are assembled by hand by the leatherworkers, each of whom carries out every step of the process: studding, sewing, edge dyeing, stitching, zippers, sanding, etc. The simplest bag takes about two hours to make, while a satchel can require almost a full day's work. The teams are trained in-house by a leatherworker who ensures the transmission of their skills. Focused on increasing production, Stéphanie and Sophie Laffargue are now also developing BtoB while considering how best to further expand their workshop and meet the needs of an ever more loyal clientele, both in France and internationally.