Since 2010, the company has been making unique objects from unused luxury leathers from major leather goods houses. Between short circuit and new relationship to consumption, Bandit Manchot moves the lines.

« 10 years ago we were way ahead and nobody was talking about us laughs Marie-Laure Biscond, one of the co-founders of Armed bandit. Twelve years after its creation, the brand is still a UFO. Since 2010, the TPE, which has one foot in Paris and the other in Graulhet in the Tarn, has saved hundreds of meters of exceptional leather from the dumpster to transform them into unique objects. At the head of the company, three women determined to cultivate upcycling in the world of leather goods: Anne Duquesnoy, Marie-Christine Frison and Marie-Laure Biscond.

Exceptional leather at bargain prices

But don't talk to them about "scrap", because it is indeed "exceptional resourced leather", unused sampled skins, bought at a knockdown price from a handful of leather goods houses in their network. Bandit Manchot is striving to transform them into bags or satchels, slippers in stretch leather recently, pencil cases or even purses… But also into postcards. It was with this product that it all started in 2010.

« Anne Duquesnoy and I were freelance stylists and, faced with the surplus of magnificent leathers thrown away at the end of the collection, we started to put them aside “says Marie-Christine Frison. Except that these skins end up piling up in the cellars, which pushes the two stylists to exploit them. They then contacted Marie-Laure Biscond, crossed over the course of their journey and whose family leather goods, in Graulhet, is going through a period of crisis. " We had the idea of ​​making postcards with messages printed on them “recalls Marie-Christine Frison. Tarn-Paris, the connection is established and the postcards are selling like hot cakes. " Given the potential, I encouraged them to get into small leather goods “recalls Marie-Laure Biscond.

Up to 10 m000 of leather recovered per year

Bandit Manchot is growing step by step with the common thread of “circularity, high quality and affordable prices”. " We have therefore simplified manufacturing by getting rid of the most time-consuming steps, such as linings or pocket bottoms, or by using a single, red zip model, which has become a signature. In leather goods, working time has a strong impact on the final price ».

The other particularity of Bandit Manchot products: each piece is unique. A part of chance that makes its charm today. " At the beginning, we didn't accept this non-uniformity of products, until we understood that it was the whole point and the strength of our brand, confides Marie-Christine Frison. Of course, it was necessary to educate buyers ". Since 2021, Bandit Manchot has also been selling old bags, bought at flea markets, then redesigned up to date.

For the VSE, which employs 5 employees and 6 freelance stitchers, the question of raw materials remains strategic. " Our great strength with the houses that supply us is that we don't care about quantity and colors “, explain the co-founders. Bandit Manchot recovers nearly 10 m000 of leather per year, for 2 pieces sold in 50, made to order and distributed in concept stores, decoration stores, bookstores, high-end stationery stores and museums. Already distributed in the United States, the brand hopes to soon set foot in Japan.