With over four decades of experience under his belt, Braun Büffel’s Master Craftsman tells BAZAAR what makes the established German brand a favourite among women
With over four decades of experience under his belt, Braun Büffel’s Master Craftsman tells BAZAAR what makes the established German brand a favourite among women
As a master craftsman, how do you instil Braun Büffel’s core values into its products?
To me, Braun Büffel’s core principle is about affordable luxury backed by exceptional craft. I have always believed in the phrase, “A craftsman is only as good as his tools.” I’m a perfectionist at heart—it is attributable to my German culture and heritage. I always insist on attention to detail from my fellow craftsmen and that all products that leave our factory meet the stringent expectations of Braun Büffel.
What’s the difference between the Asian and European markets?
The European customer has a preference for very practical designs and they like classic colours such as black or brown. They also love the natural feel of leather and place an emphasis on soft leather types. On the other hand, we realised that Asian customers love bold, colourful designs. That’s why we decided to experiment for the seasons. For example, our iconic horsehair printed on leather has been a huge success in the Asia Pacific region.
What’s your favourite leather to work with?
That would be gaucho leather, a leather from the cow’s neck. We started using it in the ’70s. It became the trademark for Braun Büffel’s products, forming a part of our heritage and identity. Gaucho leather also has an impeccably smooth exterior. It exudes a rich and luxurious feel. Coupled with the sophistication of a classic burgundy bordeaux colour tone, it evokes a sense of timeless elegance.
What are some of the steps the brand has taken to ensure that craftsmanship isn’t a dying trade?
I’m also a mentor and coach to the other craftsmen. Braun Büffel does off er an extensive apprenticeship programme in Kirn, Germany, and we do various outreach programmes with the youth to encourage them to pick up a skill. I get inspired when I see aspiring youths coming to us to learn about the craftsman trade and finally becoming leather craftsmen. It says a lot about our brand: That people do value us as a strong leading leather accessories house.
What are your future plans for the brand?
We definitely want to continue introducing new and modern bag shapes, as well as work with new leathers that encapsulate the brand ethos of quality embedded with functionality. We are also looking to launch our ecommerce capabilities in the Asia-Pacific region. That is something in the pipeline, and we are working in streamlining our production processes to meet the demand of the digital marketplace.
