Patina and purpose: our materials journey

Making a design come to life starts with the right materials and a deep respect for the people behind them. I want to know where my leather and leather alternatives come from, how they were made, how they respond.

I believe in materials that become more beautiful over time. Understanding how they evolve helps me make more thoughtful design choices.

Always evolving

When it comes to materials, everything is in motion. What feels right today might be replaced by something better tomorrow. That, too, is a part of creating consciously: adapting to, and moving forward with new insights. We should hold on to what works, not to what we’re used to.

Current choices

All chosen materials come from Europe. They’re selected with great care for their quality, longevity and character.

Leather

I work with full grain leather, which is the strongest, topmost layer of the hide. Rather than sanding, buffing or shaving it, we keep the surface intact to preserve its authenticity – any protection, like rain resistance, is integrated during tanning, not added as a plastic coating afterwards. Each hide tells a story through its scars, growth creases and abrasions. These are not flaws, but traces of its origin, making every bag one of a kind. The leather I use is a living material. It breathes and ages with grace, unlike split leather finished with plastic. 

Sustainability

Leather is a by-product of the food industry. When crafted with care and under the right conditions – using safe tanning agents, proper water treatment and energy-saving methods like natural drying – it is one of the most sustainable materials available. Moreover, it is remarkably durable, meant to be used, repaired and passed down through generations.

A trusted tannery partner

I’ve worked with Richard Hofmann from Germany for years now. This tannery, offers full transparency from origin to finish. Every hide is traceable. Hoffmans is LWG-rated (Gold) and certified by ECO₂L, for energy-controlled leather.

I visit Hoffmans regularly to develop custom tones, to feel the leather, to check its suppleness and ensure that each detail is right. It’s a slow, tactile, human process, centered on conversation and craftsmanship. 

Stock and deadstock

In the sales season, I use stock and deadstock leather to create limited-edition series. By using what already exists, I can offer a more accessible price – without resorting to seasonal discounts that would upset the timeless rhythm and integrity of my main collection. I only work with partners who are certified by the LWG Leather Working Group (Gold or Silver rated), which was founded with the explicit purpose of raising the environmental performance of the leather industry. 

I also collaborate with a luxury deadstock supplier to release small-batch pieces throughout the year. My partner sources surplus materials from luxury houses, who work exclusively with known tanneries. This is particularly valuable, as deadstock materials often come with limited information about their origins.

Leather alternatives

I strongly believe in using leather as a residual product from the meat industry. However, given that this industry has a large environmental footprint, it is also important to research innovative, high-quality alternatives. For me, those are MycaNova and VEGEA.

MycaNova

MycaNova is a Belgian vegan leather made from mycelium, the root-like structure of a fungus. It is elastic, sturdy, and rain and scratch-resistant. Years of experimenting and collaborating on early prototypes resulted in the Lies bag: is the first-ever Belgian product made from this innovative biomaterial.

VEGEA

VEGEA is soft and flexible. This Italian material is made from grape waste, a byproduct of the wine industry. The grape stems, seeds and skins that would normally be burned (releasing CO2 back into the atmosphere) continue to safely store their carbon dioxide when they become a leather alternative, thus keeping it from harming our planet.