Sustainable workshops and workshops: beauty in an intimate setting

To experience the intimacy of a craft, to admire the precision of embroidery, to breathe in the scent of fine materials… Far from the hustle and bustle, behind closed doors, workshops and manufacturers carry on the exceptional craftsmanship that has made Paris’s reputation as the capital of luxury. Sourced materials, precision work, passing on the craft…

We invite you to explore some of these dream-makers for whom sustainability is second nature.

Immerse yourself in the world of art houses at 19M

M stands for crafts, fashion, or the hand…

On the border between Paris and Aubervilliers, 19M is a real hive of activity! Housed in a building clad in a woven concrete façade designed by architect Rudy Ricciotti, this venue brings together, on the initiative of Chanel, 11 art houses – five of which hold the Entreprises du Patrimoine Vivant label – an embroidery school and the Eres brand.

A community of 700 artisans and experts, acting as ambassadors: they represent no fewer than 29 artistic trades – goldsmithing, featherwork, traditional embroidery, millinery, lighting, boot-making, and more.

To discover these exceptional skills, find inspiration, or simply marvel at the endless transformations of materials, head to the Galerie du 19M, the centre’s showcase, which hosts a multidisciplinary programme: here you can take part in workshops, attend talks, or visit exhibitions designed in collaboration with the houses’ artisans. The latest exhibition is an incredible odyssey between France and Japan.

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Awarded a silver medal at the 1900 World’s Fair for its revolutionary seamless wallet design, Atelier Le Tanneur remains one of those houses of excellence that perpetuates a love of craftsmanship and beautifully sourced materials, such as an exceptional leather sourced from a family-run tannery in the Basque Country for one of its ranges, which is entirely made in France.

Short supply chains, reusing leather offcuts… You can experience the brand’s in-house expertise during a creative workshop at its boutique on Rue des Capucines, where you can watch live as a bag or a seamless purse is created in your choice of colours – it’s amazing!

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At Pigeon Coq, founded by a lover of leather goods and handmade crafts in the Sentier district, everything revolves around ‘do it yourself’.

Whether it’s handbags, belts or accessories, every aspiring leatherworker can create their own piece during a 2- to 4-hour workshop, learning the basic techniques: cutting, assembly or saddle stitching…

And if you want to practise at home, nothing could be simpler – just choose a DIY kit to take away!

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Browsing through artisan workshops

Historically the capital’s first working-class district, Belleville has been a hub for craft workshops and small family businesses since the 19th century (shoes – the famous ‘godasses’ of Belleville – hat-making, metalwork, etc.).

This tradition has been given a new lease of life with the creation of La Manufacture de Belleville, bringing together some twenty workshops in a former metalworks.

A place well worth discovering, particularly during the Journées de l’artisanat, held every second weekend in October.

In the 11th and 12th arrondissements, other districts with a strong craftsmanship tradition, the Bureau du Design, de la Mode et des Métiers d’Art (BDMMA) has set up an incubator, Les Ateliers de Paris, a programme providing accommodation and support for emerging talent.

Until 16 May, as part of an exhibition organised in the gallery in the style of a concept store, visitors can admire exclusive pieces created by artisans at the crossroads of contemporary design, traditional craftsmanship and responsible consumption.

Among them are pieces of jewellery, designed in the style of herbariums by Héléna Thulin, currently in residence and a botany enthusiast, as well as creations by Elia Pradel (Anicet), made from recycled jewellery.

The workshops also open their doors once a year during the European Artistic Crafts Days (JEMA) as part of an open-day event.

A date for your journal!