As early as prehistoric times, our ancestors understood that the skin of the animals they hunted could be transformed to provide warmth and protection from the elements and predators. Leather is therefore one of the earliest known forms of recycling in human history.

Today, leather remains a noble and living material, the result of age-old expertise: tanning. This process consists of transforming animal skin, which is naturally rot-proof, into a rot-proof, strong and durable material: leather.

🪄 It is the tanners (for large leathers) and the tawers (for smaller skins) who ensure this metamorphosis, perpetuating a demanding and precise craftsmanship.

The animal origin of leather raises much criticism. However, it is essential to remember that leather is not the cause of animal slaughter : it is the natural by-product of the meat and dairy food industries.

In other words:

• Without breeding, there would be no skins.
• Conversely, without a leather industry, these skins would become additional waste to be treated by landfill or incineration, with a heavy ecological impact.

Faced with global consumption of more than 300 million tonnes of meat each year, promoting skins is more than just logic; it is an ecological necessity .

Leather, in addition to being the result of the revaluation of existing organic waste, has unique natural properties:

• It is water and heat resistant
• Leather is an incredible thermal insulator
• Breathable , it lets water vapor (and therefore sweat) pass through
• Versatile , it can be made water-repellent, washable, printable, stretchy, etc.
• It is durable , since it develops a patina over time.

💡 A study conducted by the FILK Institute (Germany) has shown that no alternative offers the same qualities of use as leather. Therefore, choosing genuine leather means choosing common sense, durability, and respect for materials.

These terms deliberately create confusion. They refer to synthetic materials, sometimes enriched with plant residues, but which contain plastic .

❌ So-called "vegan" alternatives are often misleading about their environmental impact. Because they are non-biodegradable, these materials are often less eco-friendly than they claim.

These are scraps of leather that are ground up and then bonded with chemicals like rubber or latex. This results in a highly processed material that lacks the nobility and suppleness of the original leather.

This textile is designed to replicate the visual appearance of leather. It can be made from synthetic fibers derived from petrochemicals, plant fibers, or even recycled materials.

One of the most emblematic examples is Skaï®, a German trademark registered in the 1960s.

Recycled leather, also known as upcycled leather or revalued leather , refers to genuine leather to which we give a second life. At Bandit Manchot, we only work with leather from the dormant stocks of major French leather goods companies .

Set aside for aesthetic or production reasons, these exceptional leathers would otherwise be forgotten or destroyed. We choose to transform them into durable and original accessories.

Since 2010, Bandit Manchot has made reclaimed leather its signature. Driven by the creativity and sensitivity of its three founders, the brand transforms reclaimed leather into wallets, bags and accessories , 100% made in France.

Each Bandit Manchot piece is unique and tells a singular story of transformation and transmission .