Sebastian Létrange On Family Traditions, Feminism, Finding A Niche In The Middle East
Three discreet punch marks. Are you one of the truly discerning who instantly know it’s the low-key symbol of Létrange, one of the oldest leather goods makers in France?
Do you prize painstaking craftsmanship and turn away from obvious logos? Quiet luxury. That’s the phrase of the moment, and there are few brands that epitomise it as much as Létrange. “What makes Létrange different is that we manage to make quiet luxury exciting with our modern approach,” exclaims Sebastian Létrange who is spearheading the revival of his family maison – one that has spanned seven generations – and has just opened the label’s first international boutique at Printemps Doha.
Harper’s Bazaar chatted with the amiable Frenchman about family tradition, feminism and finding a distinctive niche in the market.
A Woman’s Touch
Sebastian’s inspiration? His ‘formidable and unconventional’ great-grandmother Henriette Létrange who inherited her husband Armand’s business aged just 42 after he died during WWII, and ensured it flourished under her tenure from 1940 to 1975. Sebastian too re-entered the realm and relaunched the label at the same age. “She was my first investor when I started my first company at 17, in 1990. I was first an adventurer and then a reporter, before turning to advertising for 15 years. The 5th generation of my family decided to pause the business in the early 2000s because nobody from our 6th generation wanted to keep the torch lit. So, one day, as I was collaborating with François Girbaud, I had a spark of intrigue and started digging into our family archives. It took me a few years to figure it out but I finally decided to start it all over again after years of inactivity.”
Continuing The Legacy
It’s a tricky balance; honouring traditions yet exceeding current expectations. Luckily this wasn’t a conundrum for Sebastian. “The Létrange DNA since 1838 has always been about innovation, excellence, and elegance. Armand Létrange’s motto was engraved on the forefront of his first workshop: Atteindre l’excellence et la défier chaque jour [Strive and reach for excellence each and every day.] I decided to follow in their footsteps with a distinctive proposal, heritage with a twist, in order to propose stunning, contemporary pieces that will always remain timeless.” It was a bold decision, as the maison did not reproduce any archival pieces, nor jump onto current trends, but instead took inspiration from the past, giving it a contemporary accent – but ensuring a timeless feel for each of its handmade bags.
Regional Ties
The matriarch of the family encouraged Sebastian to widen his horizons. His travels brought him to the Middle East, where he spent a year. “From the oases of Saudi Arabia, the cedars of Lebanon, to the ruins of Palmyra, from Wadi Rum to Rub Al-Khali, I was enchanted every single day,” he recalls. “This region is very special to me. It’s a place of amazing encounters, of amazing people, of so many possibilities. Being back in the region with Létrange’s family spirit is like being a fish in a lagoon. I feel welcomed. I feel surrounded by kindness, which honestly scarcely happens in our business!” Fate ensured the label’s first international boutique opened here too. “[The area] already represented an important part of our clientele in Paris. My relationship with the region created a natural momentum. We must be different, not do like the others to remain unique. I thought if we could make it in Doha, we would hopefully make it anywhere in the Middle East.”
From Harper’s Bazaar Arabia’s September 2023 issue
