Valentine Huyghues Despointes

Leatherworker

©Laurene Bouaziz

Sculpting a whole new world out of leather

Valentine brings new expressions to the use of leather
Her specialities include leather marquetry and 3D sheathing
Colour combinations are an integral part of her work

“I was born into it, it was an obvious choice”, says Valentine Huyghues Despointes of her desire to work with leather. Thanks to her father, a car saddler, Valentine was immersed in the craft since childhood. Although she started by studying fashion design, she soon turned to leather goods, determined to learn the craft and its technical foundations. As a self-taught leatherworker, she first explored the material by making small accessories, but also by covering and creating various unexpected objects out of leather. “I see myself as a leather sculptor. Someone who brings this noble material back to life,” says Valentine. Over the years, she has fashioned a whole world of leather, full of colour, where refined and surprising handcrafted pieces come together.

Interview

©Laurene Bouaziz

©Laurene Bouaziz

Do you remember when you first thought of pursuing this craft?: I was living in New York City at the time, making prototypes of bags, which I found very badly made. I was not satisfied at all with their quality. That is when I decided to go back to France and learn leather craftsmanship.
Did you learn from a master during your training?: No, I am self-taught in many techniques, techniques that cannott be learnt anywhere. Leather marquetry, for example, I learnt on my own and developped my own techniques, that I now teach. The same goes for 3D sheathing, a process that I have studied through my own experimentation.
When and how did you really get started?: I started at the age of 28 when I was studying leather goods. I soon started to experiment, creating classic decorative pieces, but also covering vintage objects to transform them with leather. I discovered the many creative possibilities this offers, and I explored the technical limits to create more surprising pieces.
What are the main skills you have come to master?: My specialities are trompe-l'œil, models and the creation of installations that challenge traditional techniques. I would also include innovation and research, as well as the development of leather sculptures.

Valentine Huyghues Despointes is an expert artisan: she began her career in 2014 and she started teaching in 2022