Two French brands rooted in modernity have joined forces to create a tribute to innovation and craftsmanship: introducing the Paraboot Orsay in the “French Plissé” version. And Paraboot leather featured on Camille Fournet accessories. Discover this year’s limited editions!
French chic, as envisioned by two iconic fashion houses
Some encounters seem predestined. On one hand, Camille Fournet, a luxury leather goods house that has been crafting watch straps and bags in its workshops in northern France since 1945. On the other, Paraboot, an iconic shoe brand whose Norwegian-stitched and Goodyear-welted shoes transcend trends without ever going out of style. Two names that, each in their own way, have made the art of craftsmanship their signature.
This fall and winter, the two Houses are joining forces for a cross-brand collaboration. Each is entrusting the other with its most precious assets. On one hand, the French Plissé technique. On the other, a century of shoemaking expertise and exceptional leathers. The result? Limited-edition collections that reflect a shared commitment to craftsmanship, materials, and a certain French chic.
Two Houses, One Vision of French Craftsmanship
Camille Fournet: Pushing the Boundaries of Leather Since 1945
Recognized worldwide for its exceptional watch straps, Camille Fournet has made the art of working with fine leathers its raison d’être. In Tergnier, in Picardy, its workshop is now home to more than 280 artisans. There, they craft watch straps, bags, small leather goods, and accessories, just a few hours away from the Parisian design studio.
For at Camille Fournet, preserving craftsmanship has never meant freezing it in time. Seasoned artisans and designers work hand in hand to invent the techniques of tomorrow right here in France. The most iconic of these techniques has a name: the French Plissé. An exclusive, demanding technique, it is carried out entirely by hand in numerous stages. Its trompe-l’œil effect both graphic and playful has become the House’s signature in leather goods.
Paraboot: Sturdy Elegance Since 1908
The history of Paraboot began in 1908 in Izeaux, in the heart of the Isère region. Rémy Richard, a former leather cutter, hired his first artisans there. Upon returning from a trip to the United States, he brought back a skill that was then unheard of in France: rubber craftsmanship. He developed a vulcanized rubber sole, stitched to the upper, which would become the brand’s signature. In 1927, he named his brand Paraboot: “Para, ” after the Amazonian port from which the latex originated, and “boot, ” the shoe he had discovered across the Atlantic.
More than a century later, the company has remained a family business, passed down through four generations. In its workshops in Saint-Jean-de-Moirans, between Vercors and Chartreuse, cutters, stitchers, and assemblers carry on the same traditions: 150 manual steps to create a pair of Goodyear-welted or Norwegian-welted shoes, just as in the early days.
Paraboot has built its iconic shoes on a simple idea: to reveal the beauty of authenticity. Shoes designed to last.
Why this meeting?
Because the two Houses share much more than a commitment to “Made in France.” They share the same vision of their heritage: as a starting point, never as a limitation. Both believe in craftsmanship, the nobility of materials, and the enduring power of objects that stand the test of time.
This collaboration was born out of a dialogue. The French Plissé a rare, architectural technique finds a new medium of expression: footwear. In turn, Paraboot’s legendary raw leather is transforming the look of Camille Fournet’s designs. More than just a collaboration, it is a true exchange, in which each House reinterprets the other’s signature styles.
And to seal this union, a unifying theme: nutmeg. Camille Fournet’s favorite shade, this warm hue adorns the Orsay’s interior and accentuates its sole, like a discreet signature left by one House for the other.
Three plays, three ways to tell an intertwined story
The Orsay Moccasin: French Plissé Takes Its First Steps
An iconic Paraboot style, the Orsay a welted loafer is an extension of the Michael model. It embodies everything that defines the brand’s DNA: a look that’s both urban and casual, supple comfort, and a construction built to last.
For this edition, the Orsay is crafted from glossy black full-grain smooth leather. But the real twist lies on the top of the foot. The traditional penny loafer strap gives way to the French Plissé, which creates its signature lines there. A subtle detail that’s all it takes to transform a classic into a collector’s item.
The Camille Fournet touch is also evident in the details. The lining features the brand’s signature nutmeg color. This same shade adorns the welt stitching and elegantly highlights the line of the notched rubber sole. Designed and crafted in France, the shoe is made from full-grain cowhide leather sourced from LWG-certified European tanneries.
The Balancier MM Bag: An Icon Reinvented
Camille Fournet’s best-seller, the Balancier, owes its name to its rounded silhouette and the slight swaying motion it makes when set down. For this collaboration, it has been reimagined in one of Paraboot’s iconic leathers: Foulard leather, with a glossy finish.
Stiffer and shinier than the leathers typically used by the House, it profoundly transforms the bag’s look. Paired with French Plissé, it enhances the effect, serving as a new expression of the two houses’ craftsmanship.
Spacious and lightweight, the Balancier MM can be worn crossbody or over the shoulder thanks to its adjustable shoulder strap. It is handmade in France from full-grain calfskin and cowhide, both sourced from LWG-certified tanneries. Its edges are hand-dyed, and its metal hardware, made of polished stainless steel, was designed by the Camille Fournet studio.
The 21.26 Wallet: The Essentials, Limited Edition
The centerpiece of Camille Fournet’s small leather goods collection, the wallet joins the Balancier MM in this collaboration. It, too, features Paraboot’s iconic glossy cowhide leather.
Its patch pocket, crafted using the French Plissé technique, makes it an exceptional everyday accessory. Functional and sophisticated, it meets the same standards as the bag.
Parts Built to Last
Made in France, the Camille Fournet x Paraboot limited edition celebrates materials, craftsmanship, and the enduring power of objects that stand the test of time. These pieces transcend the seasons and become defining symbols of their era.
The collection will be available starting October 15, 2026, as a limited edition at Camille Fournet retail locations, on our website, and exclusively at our Paris Vignon, Paris Grenelle, and Bordeaux boutiques.
