Made in France
I’m not going to write about our ongoing presidential elections (besides saying I am appalled by the high score reached by the National Front). This post is about manufactured goods that are made in France. Lately I have been more careful about how and where the goods I buy are made. Most brands have their products made in asian countries where the labour is cheap but not always fair. If I can buy quality products that were made by workers with decent pay and work conditions, I like it better. If the goods require less transport and therefore less pollution to reach me, and if it helps supporting our economy, that’s even better. Fewer and fewer french enterprises produce locally though. It can be a challenge to find nice items at reasonable prices. Here is a selection of french goods:
Clairefontaine is a well-known brand of school stationery. Their Zap Book range of recycled notebooks looks quite cool.
I was writing about the australian cosmetics Aesop. Sanoflore‘s products may not have the same cool packaging, but their cosmetics share the same heavenly vegetal smells and efficiency, plus they are organic and ethical.
How lovely are the clothes from Bérangère Claire and Bleu De Paname? They are a bit expensive, but they took up where APC left things some years ago when production moved in Asia (without lowering their prices!). These are tailored in France and most fabrics are local too. Love, love, love! The problem encountered with small production like this is they sometimes only make a couple of sizes. Oh well, if I’m too big/tall for them I’m less tempted to splurge!
Cocotte Métal design and produce metal furniture.
Le Slip français make underwear for men. According to the website, a range of underwear for women will soon be available. I am curious to see what it is going to look like.
Stéphane Gontard makes shoes. I don’t like every model, but the mens sneakers are really beautiful and affordable.
Empreinte also make shoes, I love this mens model made of french leather and recycled rubber.
See also: clothes by Balibaris, bags by Bleu de Chauffe and Jojo Messenger, shoes by La Botte gardiane, breton stripes by Armor-Lux
Record of the day: Camera Obscura – My Maudlin Career
I love the sneakers. But if I bought them, I’d be sort of missing the point! You’re right of course. I do try and buy US made, preferably NYC made, but it can be hard. APC is still so expensive, but doesn’t seem as good as it used to be. Not lately. French design is always so chic, that’s the problem! On another note – record shop day fail. No Gene Clark singles! I wish they’d press some more…
I think I saw vaguely similar sneakers online by Vans, or was it Keds?
Yes, french design is chic but not very democratic…
About record shop day, I hadn’t looked up what there was to get for the occasion- that’s why I didn’t get disappointed!