Unsere Manufakturen
Attention to detail at BRAUN BÜFFEL
Traditional Craftsmanship Since 1887
Upon entering the BRAUN BÜFFEL leather manufactories, one senses why the buffalo has become a hallmark for high-quality leather accessories worldwide: The earthy scent of finely tanned leather fills the air. The manufactory was opened in 1887 as a saddlery and upholstery business in Kirn. Even over 135 years later, leather goods are still lovingly handcrafted by our fine leather craftsmen and women in Kirn and, since 2022, also in Offenbach.
What is a Manufactory?
The term "manufactory" is heard often - it is not a foreign word. But what exactly lies behind the term and what is made in a manufactory? Are there different styles of manufactories and how does BRAUN BÜFFEL actually work? We would like to answer all these questions for you today in this article. BRAUN BÜFFEL tradition is manufactory work - with attention to detail. The highest quality standards made by hand.
The heyday of the original and early manufactories was between 1780 and 1820. A manufactory is described as a "large-scale goods production organization." While superseded by the factory, BRAUN BÜFFEL classically adheres to the manufactory type, thereby reviving craftsmanship. Machines have been partially integrated to work more efficiently, but the most important work still relies on production and its employees. No machine can recognize the character of unique leather.
The origin of the term can be found in old Latin. "Manus" means "hand." "Factura" means "to make" in German. Combined, the two Latin terms thus mean "to make by hand." In a manufactory, work is done by hand, and products are manufactured to a high quality.
Today, the manufactory stands between a modern, contemporary factory and the traditional craftsmanship of yesteryear, which had no single labor-saving machine.
Especially in the world of leather, manufacturing plays a special role. Leather goods require a great deal of attention and experienced fine leather artisans to ensure the material is processed optimally.
The fine leather artisan impresses with experience and know-how. This craft has become very rare over time, as the trend has shifted towards cheap production with less high-quality leather goods. BRAUN BÜFFEL, however, has remained true to its principles and still impresses today with the art and profession of the fine leather artisan. This is also one reason for the search for new talents. The profession of fine leather artisan needs new recruits. Due to a shift in values among Generation Z, who consume more thoughtfully and consciously, high-quality craftsmanship is once again gaining importance and giving the profession of fine leather artisan charm and significance.
Where are BRAUN BÜFFEL's factories located?
The Braun family took the first steps towards manufacturing over 138 years ago. BRAUN BÜFFEL and the first manufactory started in the town center of Kirn, a small, manageable town in Rhineland-Palatinate, located between Frankfurt and Saarbrücken. A few years later, the company grew, and BRAUN BÜFFEL relocated to Kirn's industrial area. The current master leather craftsman has been with BRAUN BÜFFEL since successfully completing his apprenticeship at a young age. For this reason, it is particularly important to find young talent so that the years of tradition and experience can be passed on to motivated future leather craftsmen.
Since the beginning of 2022, there has been another manufactory that exclusively produces BRAUN BÜFFEL products. The Offenbach manufactory, with two leather craftsmen and several production employees, lives for the BRAUN BÜFFEL culture and therefore creates special leather unique pieces together with Kirn. Working hand-in-hand allows the manufactories an easy exchange, and the individual strengths of the employees can be utilized particularly well. The exciting and diverse work of the leather craftsman is getting support! In autumn 2022, there will be more leather craftsman apprentices. The tradition continues, and BRAUN BÜFFEL is excited about new input and the journey of the manufactories in the future. Together, we stand for quality and craftsmanship.
LOYAL PARTNER MANUFACTURERS
In addition to the German manufactories in Kirn and Offenbach, BRAUN BÜFFEL has also been working with excellent partner manufactories in Asia for decades. Long-standing partnerships and friendships characterize the value chain of the leather goods.
HANDCRAFTED LEATHER GOODS
A fine leather goods maker is a profession where small decisions often make a huge difference to the overall appearance of a leather product. Ideas, concepts and wishes are transformed into patterns, which are altered multiple times until the overall composition is perfect. Individual parts come together to form a greater whole.
Leather is not a rigid material. Every leather is unique and must therefore be treated in a unique way. The implementation is flexible. The character of the leather needs to be considered – in a finished leather product, the leather should be shown and enhanced from its best side. The fine leather goods maker recognises these special characteristics and makes them shine in a new light.
People are often unaware of how many individual parts their beloved wallet or bag consists of. A zipper here, a card slot there – all of this is crafted by hand. The high quality of BRAUN BÜFFEL products comes from skill, attention to detail and craftsmanship. For this reason, every product is a unique item that no one in the world can replicate 100%. Uniqueness is a plus point of manufacturing in a factory. In addition, personal wishes from buyers can be accommodated. Due to smaller quantities, no mass production and manual labour, it is possible to personalise leather goods for gifts or other occasions. Whether initials, entire sentences or individual symbols – the fine leather goods makers and production staff always strive to meet the demands of buyers. The extent to which they can fulfil your wish often depends on the size of the leather product. The leather quality also plays a big role.
Our fine leather craftsmen lovingly handcraft wallets, purses, business bags, handbags, luggage, backpacks, key and card cases, and leather accessories for men and women from the current "Made in Germany" collections. In addition, new prototypes are built and personalizations are embossed. Our fine leather craftsmen also diligently handle the lifelong repair service.
The journey from a paper pattern to a finished purse is a lengthy process, undergoing scrutiny from many critical and perfectionist eyes. Workflows comprising 50-60 steps are not uncommon. Would you like to learn more about the process of manufacturing a purse or bag? Feel free to visit us in the "World of Leather" guide – you can expect exciting care tips and deep insights into traditional craftsmanship.
FINE LEATHER CRAFTSMANSHIP
We would be pleased to give you an insight into our manufactory and the work steps of our specialists for high-quality leather processing.
MAKING A WALLET
Fine leather craftsman Manfred Goll produces a wallet. From the paper templates for the cuts to the leather processing, everything in these prototypes is handcrafted.
