RaphaëlleThe spirit of leather behind Petite Frappe

Raphaëlle

It only takes a few minutes with Raphaëlle to realise that her journey is anything but ordinary. At 44, this former product manager at an advertising agency chose to change the course of her life and set up Petite Frappe, a workshop specialising in handcrafted leather goods where every creation tells a story.

Designer Profile

Having settled in Granville two years ago, after falling in love with the region during a simple weekend away with friends, Raphaëlle immediately found what she was looking for here: an inspiring place to live and a warm welcome. “I loved the atmosphere and the people here straight away,” she says.

After ten years spent designing product ranges for major brands, specialising in ‘Made in France’ products, ethical goods and branding techniques, one thing became clear: she wanted to ‘switch sides ’. No longer designing for others, but creating for herself.

And so ‘Petite Frappe’ was born, officially launched on 15 April. Today, you can find Raphaëlle at the region’s craft markets, whilst she develops her workshop, which is currently based at her home.

A passion turned into a career

Raphaëlle has always been fascinated by marking techniques: embroidery, screen printing and hot stamping. After years of working with craftspeople, the urge to get her hands dirty herself became irresistible.

Her choice naturally fell on leather.

“ I love the way it smells, the feel of it and, above all, its durability. It’s a noble material that stands the test of time.”

She works exclusively with vegetable-tanned cowhide, a traditional method that transforms the hide using tannins found in tree bark and plants, without the use of chemicals. It’s an approach that respects the material and aligns with her values.

What does she particularly enjoy? Bespoke projects.

Every request becomes an encounter, a dialogue, a shared creative process to create a unique piece that will accompany its owner for many years to come.

At the heart of creation

Inspiration is everywhere.

An exhibition, an item found at a flea market, another craftsperson’s work, a detail spotted whilst out for a stroll.

His very first creation was a card holder.

“ I wanted to create a small, useful object that you could slip into your pocket and which already told a story.”

Today, the piece she’s most proud of is the ‘Bisou Bag’, a small bag made entirely by hand from vegetable-tanned leather. It takes between two and three hours of work to bring this design to life – a piece that has become emblematic of her creative world.

At the start of the new academic year, Raphaëlle will be taking part in France Design Week: together with four other craftspeople, they are preparing an exhibition called“Raw Materials, Ways of Making”, which explores the technical challenges of manual craftsmanship in the face of industrialisation.

Expertise: a blend of tradition and creativity

In his workshop, every creation follows a meticulous process.

It all begins with drawing up a pattern – or sometimes without one… Next comes cutting the leather with a craft knife, followed by assembling the various pieces, before the finishing touches.

Raphaëlle loves working with beautiful tools, often steeped in history. Among them are an old set square found in the loft of the house where she now lives, and an old roller she uses to smooth out the glued seams. These antique items sit alongside more technical equipment such as a hot-stamping machine, an industrial sewing machine and a rivet press.

But her favourite part comes well before the actual making.

“ What I love most is the idea. That moment when someone comes along with a desire, a story or a project, and we imagine together what it could become.”

She also keeps a notebook filled with words, short phrases and expressions that inspire her future creations.

If she had to sum up her world in three words, it would simply be:

“Leather, heart and colours ”.

Looking to the future

After a first year full of encounters at markets, Raphaëlle now hopes to develop her online shop whilst continuing to take part in local events.

Her next major project is to open a proper workshop-cum-shop in the Granville Terre et Mer area within a year – a place where she can welcome the public and share her expertise more widely.

To those who dream of embarking on a craft-making adventure, she offers a simple but heartfelt piece of advice:

“Listen to your ideas, trust them. Be bold! Anything becomes possible once you take the plunge.”

And when she leaves her workshop, it’s only natural that she finds inspiration by the sea. With a book in hand, sitting on the beach just a stone’s throw from her home, she soaks up the tranquillity of the Granville coastline before returning to imagine the next stories that leather will tell.

Article written by Harmony PERRIÈRE, Destination Ambassador for Granville Terre et Mer