Last April, Poétique Paris launched two bags made from Apple Skin, the apple vegan leather from the Italian company Frumat. Pauline Weinmann, co-founder of this cruelty free and more sustainable French brand, answers the questions of Le Boudoir Numérique.

By Ludmilla Intravaia

In this article :

• The look of the bags Gala and Smith by Poétique Paris

• Frumat Apple Skin alter-leather and its composition

• Why is there plastic in vegan leather?

• Why buy a Poétique Paris bag?

On April 11, the brand Poétique Paris, which revisits the classics of the feminine wardrobe, in particular the biker jacket, made from alternative materials to leather of animal origin, launched its first line of bags. Faithful to the conception that this French start-up has of a more sustainable fashion, respectful of sentient beings and the environment, the collection consists of two accessories, the Smith bucket bag, with drawstring closure and the Gala saddle bag with flap. Let's take a closer look on these accessories with Pauline Weinmann, co-founder of Poétique Paris. 

Le Boudoir Numérique: How did you choose the style of the Smith bag?

Pauline Weinmann, co-founder of Poétique Paris: The Smith is a pouch bag to be worn across the body or over the shoulder. It is easy to adapt to any outfit, sport or more dressy, with heels for example. It is not a travel bag but it is practical for a few hours getaway because its container is large enough to slip a toiletry bag with your mascara, your day cream, as well as a vest, a notebook or a book.

And the look of the Gala bag?

The gala also has that timeless side that can be found at Poétique Paris, but it is a bit more fashionable, with its exterior gusseted pocket on the front. It is practical for daily activities, even if its container is smaller than the Smith. You can slip in the essentials: your keys, your wallet, a pocket book. Both bags feature Poétique Paris details, namely press studs and a bi-materials look, suede alter-leather and apple alter-leather.

Precisely, let's talk about materials. Both bags are made from vegan alter-leather, recycled from waste from the apple food industry. Which manufacturer do you work with?

We are collaborating with the Italian company Frumat, leader in apple alter-leather, which has trusted us since our beginnings. We were one of the pioneering brands to use Apple Skin from Frumat. As the bags are bi-materials, they are also made of recycled polyester alter-suede. Our liners are made in France, from recycled plastic bottles. The bags are made in a workshop in Spain.

You write on your website that your apple vegan leather contains 26% apple, 16% cotton, 20% polyester and 36% polyurethane. Why is there plastic in your alter-leather?

Frumat has more than thirty different alter-leather references, each with their specific characteristics. When you choose the alter-leather you need to make an item, it's like making a recipe with various ingredients that come into play, depending on the demands of the market, of the consumers who buy the product. If we take the example of our bags, they must be resistant, they must be able to last, be worn for a long time. They have to be waterproof so that you can go out with them in the rain but also wash them. Our bags are hand washable with a wrung out sponge and a little soap. They must be attractive, soft to the touch, they need a grain that resembles leather. It is for these reason that alter-leathers are still composed, for the moment, of a resin based on polyester and polyurethane which gives them the necessary aesthetic and resistance qualities.

A question comes up regularly among readers of Le Boudoir Numérique: if alter-leathers contain plastic, how are they part of a movement for a more sustainable fashion?

Eco-responsibility is fundamental for us. At Poétique Paris, we know all our suppliers, we have met them, we know how they work and we are only sourced in France and Italy, closest to us. We are transparent about our sourcing and the composition of materials. We say things. The same cannot be said of other fashion brands that should ask themselves: Where do our materials come from? How are they produced? We should encourage transparency throughout the fashion industry, rather than focusing only on alter-leather. Alter-leather is an alternative to leather of animal origin, the industry of which is extremely polluting, in particular because of chrome tanning and participates in the deplorable exploitation of animals in the food industry, not to mention the billion animals also killed in the world, every year, just for their skin. Our items are cruelty free, our brand is labeled PETA and Animal Free. We make sure to do the best we can, to take one step forward each time, doing R&D to improve our material, to reduce the presence of plastic in alter-leathers. We will get there. And bravo to all manufacturers like Frumat who are shaking things up in this area.

Why is it important to buy a Poétique Paris bag?

I don't know if it's important. First, you have to need a bag, even if you are alowed to buy a coup de cœur. You have to ask yourself the relevant questions: What is the impact of the product I buy? Where is it made? Then, if you don't want to buy animal leather for vegan beliefs, if you want eco-sourced products or if you want to support a small French company, driven by an activist approach for a more responsible fashion, respectful of human beings, animals and the planet, you can come to us and you will have this guarantee.

* The Gala and Smith bags are available for pre-order on Poétique Paris website.

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- Paris Fashion Week Haute Couture SS21 - Iris van Herpen’s dress in recycled plastic by Parley for the Oceans

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