Arts & Crafts Supplies

Valentine Huyghues Despointes is a leather artist whose passion for craftsmanship was inherited from her father, a skilled automobile saddler. Immersed in the world of fine materials from an early age, she initially studied fashion at Studio Berçot before earning a CAP in saddlery and leather goods from Ateliers Grégoire in 2013. A year later, she established her own workshop, where she began shaping, experimenting, and pushing the boundaries of leather as a medium.

Her work is defined by a poetic, dreamlike universe filled with jungles, vibrant animals, and stylised silhouettes. Inspired by the natural world, Valentine crafts unique decorative objects, handbags, and accessories for private clients, decorators, and renowned luxury brands. She works primarily with leather from prestigious French tanneries, as well as high-end recycled scraps, creating made-to-measure pieces influenced by elements such as the ocean, ice, food, and lush vegetation.

A dedicated craftsperson, Valentine continuously innovates with techniques such as leather marquetry and 3D sheathing, both of which she developed through years of self-guided experimentation. Her expertise in trompe-l'œil, sculptural forms, and unconventional leather applications has made her a sought-after artisan in the industry. In 2017, she participated in the Mobilier National’s Les Aliénés du Mobilier National project, producing the Wreck Desk, a stunning leather-clad sculpture inspired by her childhood memories of Martinique’s coral reefs and marine life. The piece, incorporating real shipwreck nails, required 1,800 hours of meticulous craftsmanship.

Beyond her artistic practice, Valentine is passionate about education. Since 2018, she has trained numerous apprentices and even taught leatherwork at the Beaux-Arts de Versailles. In 2021, she expanded her efforts by introducing DIY leather kits, making her expertise more accessible to aspiring artisans. That same year, the Fondation Rémy Cointreau provided support for the restoration of her slitting machine, a crucial tool in her workshop.

Valentine’s innovative and vibrant approach to leather has led to collaborations with luxury brands such as Balmain, Hermès, Dior, and interior designers worldwide. Her work was showcased at Homo Faber 2024, where visitors were astonished by her hyper-realistic leather sculptures, including food, marine creatures, and intricate table settings. At her workshop, she and her collaborator, Mélanie Durand, continue to breathe new life into leather, merging traditional techniques with contemporary artistry to keep the craft dynamic and evolving.