Our expertise
Our Workshop
In order to respect the objectives that we have set for ourselves and to be in line with our values, we have decided to create our own production workshop in Niamey. This allows us to master the manufacturing of bags from A to Z: from the choice and purchase of raw materials to the tiny finishes. This also makes it possible to monitor that the entire process respects our choices, in particular in terms of non-use of products toxic to humans and the environment.
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We imagine and design the models, then offer them to our craftsmen, and discuss together their ideas and areas for improvement. Once the model has been chosen, comes the hard step of choosing the leather and the accompanying fabric.
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From the cuts, to the assemblies to the finishes, all the craftsmen work hand in hand in order to offer you a unique artisanal product.
The leather
In West Africa, and more particularly in Niger, animal husbandry is a traditional activity that has been practiced for centuries. The number of pastoralists represents a significant part of the working population (almost 87% -SDDEL 2013/2035), and this activity is one of the main sources of income for these families.
The hides we use come from these herds and are considered food waste, which is recycled and made into genuine leather. Thus, leather is a durable and rot-proof product obtained by the transformation of the skin, by a process known as tanning.
There are different types of tanning, whose techniques are similar but carried out with different substances: mineral tanning with chromium (the most common method) and vegetable tanning (tree bark, leaves, roots). This technique takes longer than chrome tanning, but is much more environmentally friendly.
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We have considered as a priority the use of exclusively vegetable tanned leathers for the realization of our bags, in order to guarantee you products that are respectful of the environment and harmless to your health!
African fabrics
In order to support African craftsmanship, we use the different cottons woven in West African countries.
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Thus, depending on the creations you can find:
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Bogolan, which comes mainly from Mali
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Terra-terra or sakala, from the weavers of Niamey (Niger)
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From faso dan fani, woven in Burkina Faso by women
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Kente from Ghana
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We also use wax on some creations: cotton fabric on which a shoe polish is applied on both sides. Iconic African fabric with its multiple colors and patterns, this fabric traces a long history of exchanges between Europe, Indonesia and Africa. Today the wax market is completely disrupted with the appearance of wax from China. Concerned about our impact on local industries, we wanted to use wax produced on the African continent, and work mainly with the Woodin and GTP brands.
