Carla is the founder of the responsible and artisanal vegan leather goods brand
[ ATELIER IKIGAI ]
Year founded: 2023
Design and office location: France 🇫🇷
Raw material sourcing locations: Campi Bisenzio, Italy 🇮🇹 Campbon and Begrolle-en-mauges in France 🇫🇷
Manufacturing and production location: Clisson, France 🇫🇷
Meet the founder
Carla Macé, 23 years old and the founder of Atelier Ikigai. She started her company at 21, two years after finishing her higher education. A fashion designer and pattern maker, she was trained in luxury clothing. The idea was born during this period, as an artistic and committed student, she had a deep desire to show that fashion can be ethical and promote deep values. Having become vegetarian at the age of 11, and later vegan, it was essential for her that this lifestyle be better represented, because ethical fashion is not boring. That is when Atelier Ikigai was born in May 2023. Initially, she naturally wanted to turn to clothing, but she wanted to be inclusive (at least from size 32 to 56), and that costs a lot. That is when the idea of accessories came to her: everyone needs a bag, and since the leather industry is as barbaric as it is polluting, she had found her GOAL! To create leather goods that are as beautiful as they are ethical, as fun as they are sustainable, as practical as they are committed.
About the brand
Atelier Ikigai is a responsible and artisanal vegan leather goods brand. Ranging from small to large leather goods, from keychains to tote bags, including wallets. Ikigai means reason for being; it is a Japanese method combining mission, passion, profession, and vocation. Handmade (by my two hands) in France (Clisson, near Nantes), with a durable and innovative material. The apple leather, manufactured in Italy for over 15 years, this material offers a lifespan of 20 to 25 years! It uses 1000x less water and 60x less CO2 than animal leather. Furthermore, it requires no maintenance, is waterproof and extremely light (the "heaviest" of our bags weighs 300g).
The eco-responsible impact
The main material used, apple leather, is composed of 60% recycled materials and is manufactured in northern Italy using waste from the local industry. The fabrics used for the linings are mostly cotton, and these fabrics are vintage or come from haute couture deadstock. The metal hardware, when manufactured in Italy, includes those to be set (rivets, magnetic clasps, eyelets), while the buckles (rings, half-moons, buckles, and adjustment buckles) also come from dormant or vintage stock. The glue and edge dyes used are water-based and made in France. Production is artisanal, each piece is unique or produced in micro-series. I do not keep large quantities of material in stock to avoid dormant stock; production is based on what is sold. The products are made from durable materials and assembled with precision. They have a lifespan of 20 to 25 years.
The brand's values
♻️ Recycling ↓
The material is 60% recycled.
🔁 Upcycling ↓
The majority of the fabrics and metal hardware used come from deadstock or vintage stock hand-picked by me.
🌀 Zero-waste lifestyle ↓
It promotes zero waste, as my preferred material is composed of it.
👤 Know-how ↓
It is produced artisanally, at home, without cutting machines or heat-bonding presses.
🇫🇷 Made in France ↓
Made from A to Z in Clisson, after receiving the materials.
🇪🇺 Made in Europe ↓
The majority of the products come from Italy!
💎 Limited edition ↓
Only one model is produced for each bag or accessory, so it can only be produced up to 10 identical copies.
🐨 Vegan ↓
Apple leather is vegan, as are all the selected components.
🗓️ Made to order ↓
Only one model is produced for each bag or accessory, so it can only be produced up to 10 identical copies. No stock, depending on demand.
[ Leather goods without ethical issues, for a more fun fashion and world! ]
