Interview with Élise, seamstress and leatherworker in Saint-Lô, Nohô host

At 33, Élise already has 12 years of sewing experience behind her, working in luxury workshops, leather goods, and the textile industry. Based in Saint-Lô, she has chosen to return to her first loves: leather, design, and handmade work. In this interview, she tells us about her career, her passion for leather goods, and what she offers today on Nohô, between passing on and sharing her craft.

Can you introduce yourself?

My name is Élise, I’m 33 years old, I’ve been a seamstress for 12 years, and I live in Saint-Lô.

Can you tell me about your professional background?

I started at 16, doing a vocational baccalaureate in a luxury sewing factory. Then I did a BTS in Leather Goods and Shoes near Cholet.

Right after that, I was a team leader in a leather goods company. Then I worked for eight years in a sewing company in La Manche.

At one point, I got tired of working in a factory, so I did something else… but I missed it. So I went back to my first love, and now I’m back to making leather goods on my own. I moved into my attic. At first, it was just a loft, which wasn’t great, but now it’s my workshop.

So you design your own bags?

Yes. I have ideas for designs in my head. I want a particular shape or style, so I make a pattern out of cardboard. Then I cut my leather, assemble it, and that’s when I see if it works or not. At that point, I make any necessary adjustments to arrive at a finished design that is wearable.

Do you have a guiding principle for your designs?

Given the machines I have, because when you start out on a small budget, you can’t have everything, there are some things I can’t necessarily do.

So when I have an idea that I like but I don’t have the right machine, I try to think of another way of doing it, to use what I have while staying as close as possible to my original idea.

At first, I had four or five models in different colors. But now, I’m thinking of sticking to one or two colors and offering more different models.

Has this passion for leather goods always been there?

Yes, yes. I love fashion, and what I love about handbags is that whether you’re tall, short, thin, or heavy, there’s no distinction. And that’s really what I love about it.

What are you offering today on Nohô?

I’m mainly offering a meeting, a discussion about my job.

This may be of interest to people who want to start their own business, or even people who want to study. Sometimes you need to get an opinion on what’s behind this job.

Even if you don’t want to start your own business, it’s important to know that leather goods are still being manufactured in France and that it’s not a saturated sector.

In the future, I might run creative workshops on manufacturing, but for now I need to think about the structure to put it in place.

Conclusion

Throughout her career, Élise has embodied modern craftsmanship, rooted in French expertise and guided by a desire to create differently. Combining tradition, a passion for leather, and creative freedom, she opens the doors to her craft to those who wish to understand, learn, or simply exchange ideas.

On Nohô, she offers above all a sincere and concrete opportunity for discussion, to show that leather goods still have their place today in France and that it is possible to forge your own path, step by step.

What if, like Elise (see her Facebook page), you shared your passion on Nohô? : Sign up now and create your ad for free on Nohô.