Craftsmanship

In the heart of the village of Espelette, a land of character nestled in the Basque hills, we select our taurillon and calfskin leathers. Our tanner, a Basque artisan of international renown, perpetuates centuries-old expertise. Each hide is worked with infinite patience, revealing an exceptionally fine grain and unparalleled suppleness. This noble leather, born from the land of our ancestors, carries within it the soul of the Basque Country.

For our most exceptional creations, we select the finest exotic skins. Crocodile with perfectly aligned scales, python with hypnotic patterns, ostrich with its unique texture, shagreen with its pearlescent reflections. Each material is chosen according to the most exacting criteria, then entrusted to the finest tanners to reveal its full natural splendor.

The clasps, buckles and ornaments that adorn our creations are not mere accessories — they are true jewelry. Made from solid brass, they receive a precious plating of palladium or gold, depending on the model. This choice is deliberate; palladium, a rare metal from the platinum family, offers a silver brilliance of cool, unalterable elegance. Gold, meanwhile, brings its timeless warmth. Each metal piece is hand-polished to achieve a perfect shine, worthy of the greatest jewelry houses.

It is in Paris, world capital of luxury and elegance, that each Gratianne Bascans bag takes shape. In our workshop, master craftsmen perpetuate the ancestral gestures of French haute leather goods. Here, time stands still. Our most exceptional pieces, such as those in shagreen, require more than forty hours of meticulous work. The saddle stitching, signature of our house, is done entirely by hand, stitch after stitch, with waxed linen thread that will last for decades. Assembly is an art of precision where every millimeter counts, where every gesture is the culmination of years of training.