Leather, sustainable and local!
I am thick and strong, yet supple and soft to the touch. Smooth or velvety, I can take on a thousand and one shapes...
Who am I?
As you've probably guessed, it's all about leather! At JULES & JENN, it's one of our favorite materials. Shoes , handbags , small leather goods and belts , a large portion of our accessories are made from this noble material.
In complete transparency, we give you the reasons for this choice.
Leather, a natural material that is thousands of years old, a relic of food
Early humans always relied on the hides of the animals they hunted for food. A natural material tanned using a mixture of water, stones, and tree bark before being dried in the sun, leather protected their bodies.
Leather has survived through the ages because we still consume animals for our food, and it makes sense to take advantage of this extremely strong and durable material rather than throwing it away.
At JULES & JENN, we ensure that our leathers do not come from animals raised solely for their skins . Unlike those raised for precious skins, such as alligators or ostriches, the leathers we select come from animals dedicated to food. Using skin to make accessories is therefore a way to avoid producing waste.
For our small leather goods capsule collection, we made the original choice of fish leather, another material that's a leftover from our diet. Rather than throwing away the skin of the fish destined for our plates, this fine, durable hide is tanned in Brittany for an elegant and stylish finish.
Leather, a durable and unique material
Leather is a durable material, particularly because it's so strong. Did you know that leather is resistant to tearing, abrasion, punctures, and even fire? And yes, leather is naturally flame retardant!
At JULES & JENN, we mainly choose calfskin, the finest leather for leather goods . The combination of age, size of the animal and the thickness of its skin ensures a leather that is supple and very durable over time.
In addition to its durability, each hide bears the marks of its natural origin: wrinkles, scars and variations in grain differ from one hide to another, making each leather unique.
Then, the patina of time on the leather will do its work and make each accessory even more unique.
Leatherworking: a traditional local skill
Leatherworking is a craft that dates back thousands of years. And here in Europe, we are fortunate to count this expertise among our local heritage, whether it be leather tanning or leather goods manufacturing.
Leather tanning is often criticized because it is associated with images of open-air tanneries in developing countries, which unfortunately combine deplorable working conditions and pollution of waterways.
At JULES & JENN, we only work with local tanneries : French, Italian, Spanish or Portuguese, subject to strict environmental standards since the 1990s...
At JULES & JENN, all our leather goods are Made in France , because we want to benefit from traditional local know-how and help maintain employment in France.
There you have it, now you know everything about our passion for leather. And for even more transparency, we'll take you behind the scenes in our workshops .
