Using traditional saddle stitching techniques (the point sellier ), he began crafting heavy-duty leather bottle holders. Each piece was stamped with a brand resembling a wine estate seal. Friends asked for wallets. Friends of friends asked for briefcases. Within two years, the "stable workshop" had outgrown its capacity.
The leather will be cut in Bordeaux, flown to Maine, and stitched by a partner workshop in Portland. Legally, they can stamp "Made in USA" while using French raw materials. Purists are angry. Accountants are thrilled. Walking through the Chateau-Cuir studio, you see a framed quote from the founder: "Wine improves with age. Why should your bag be any different?"
The challenge? US import taxes on European leather (Section 301) add 25% to the retail price. To counter this, Delacroix announced a controversial plan: Final assembly in the USA.
A: Yes, but duties are the buyer's responsibility. They ship via DHL Express from Bordeaux.
A: Because they produce in small batches, like winemakers. Sign up for the newsletter to get "Harvest Alerts" (when new hides arrive).
"Why should the vessel be inferior to the liquid?" Delacroix asked in a 2018 interview with Le Figaro .