Lovers of fine leather goods will undoubtedly be familiar with the name. Handbags, watch straps, accessories… Made in France, Camille Fournet’s pieces combine exceptional craftsmanship, elegance, timelessness, and innovation. And as it celebrates its 80th anniversary, the French fashion house is launching a brand new Signature line of bags in four designs.
It all began in 1945, in the aftermath of World War II. In the small town of Saint-Quentin, in the Aisne department, designer and saddler Camille Fournet began creating watch straps and small leather goods.
Precious leather, Camille Fournet’s material of choice
The artist’s credo? Rare and delicate leather, which he carefully sources, from python to alligator, shark, ostrich, and even lizard. Today, 700 colors, materials, and finishes are available.
Major watchmakers quickly spotted the talent of this small workshop nestled in northern France. Camille Fournet stood out for its bespoke pieces, which were perfectly suited to the demands of the watchmaking industry.
In the 1970s, the company moved to Tergnier, another town in the Aisne department, and continued to grow slowly, taking the time to develop its craftsmanship and techniques. In 1994, the brand opened a new chapter in its history when it was acquired by Jean-Luc Déchery.
From a local workshop specializing in watchmaking to an international leather goods company
A former Énarque advisor to Edouard Balladur and former director of François Pinault’s holding company, the businessman aims to push the 60-employee label to its creative peak with more special orders and accelerated exports. Milan, Shanghai, Beijing, New York… The brand is now distributed worldwide and has stores in Paris, Japan, and China.
In 2006, Camille Fournet entered a new market: small leather goods. A few years later, in 2013, it acquired Lavabre Cadet, a luxury glove maker, and added this product division to its portfolio. Five years ago, the brand further expanded its activities with the addition of bags and belts. It works on its own collections as well as for French luxury houses, whose names it does not disclose. Building on this momentum, the company invested €7 million in 2024 to open a new leather goods workshop dedicated to bags at its production site in Tergnier.
The company now manufactures 450,000 bracelets and 50,000 bags per year and plans to double production of the latter within the next five years. 150 employees are expected to join the 325 who work at its production site and in its six sales subsidiaries in Switzerland, the United States, China, and Japan.
Since 2018, the brand has seen growth of 6 to 10% per year. In 2023, the company achieved a turnover of €40 million, 80% of which came from exports. The brand is targeting new markets in the coming years, such as South Korea and Dubai.
New versions of the Signature bag for the brand’s 80th anniversary
Camille Fournet is celebrating its 80th anniversary this year, led by a talented young designer, Claire Aubadie-Ladrix, who created the Hobo bags and large totes. To mark the occasion, the luxury brand is expanding the iterations of its Signature bag, which was a huge success in 2024.
Several new versions with a shell-like appearance are being added to the line: the Signature MM, the Signature PM, the Signature Tote, and the Signature Wallet. In a major first, the House is incorporating a Gold metal jewelry, which varies from the traditional silver used for 80 years and recalls the guilloché watchmaking technique, a craft that is inextricably linked to its history. Colors include burgundy, indigo, tobacco, khaki, black, and cream.
To showcase these new bags, the brand has unveiled a campaign featuring Irène Dresel, a renowned electronic music composer and the only woman to have won the César Award for Best Original Music (for Eric Gravel’s film À Plein Temps in 2021).
The artist transforms into a modern-day mermaid, with a trendy glowing complexion, wavy wet-look hair, a scallop shell crown reminiscent of the Signature style, and a feminine beige corset dress. This campaign and collection are sure to attract fans of French luxury leather goods.
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Featured photo: © Camille Fournet
