Ariane Rubiella

Leatherworker | Conilhac-Corbières, France

A lifetime of leatherwork

Ariane has experience in several leather crafts and techniques
A kendo player, she also specialises in making sword sheaths
She uses mainly local French leather

Ariane Rubiella has been working with leather since her late teens and is still as much in love with the material as ever. Influenced by her childhood memories of riding lessons and walks with her horse, she turned to leather and its many qualities. "It is a very sensual material. I like the idea that it ages with use and becomes more and more beautiful," says Ariane. She initially trained as a boot maker, specialising in the making of riding boots, before turning to leather goods. Her experience in working for luxury brands such as Hermès and then Maison Goyard allowed her to perfect her skills and learn to work with the finest of leathers. Today, she creates her own leather goods collections, each piece reflecting the excellence of her expertise.

Interview

©Studio Arsene

What inspired you to start working with leather?: I started riding when I was seven years old and I have always loved saddlery. The smell of leather, the sound of leather crackling, I loved all those sensations and what they evoked. It made me feel like I was on an adventure. I went to visit an open day on leather craft in Toulouse, and that is how I got started with boot-making.
How do you relate to tradition and innovation as an artisan?: I use very few machines and I work with leather craft techniques that have been practised for ages. Stitching, for example, is very simple. It is an old gesture which I like to express. I love the fact that I am part of a lineage of gestures that humans have passed on. Innovation in terms of technology does not attract me at all. For me, innovation is about creativity, renewal and having a unique signature.
Have your experiences in various leather techniques had an influence on your practice today?: The main influence has been the quality of the leather. I am lucky enough to work with people who only use beautiful materials and that is what makes me so demanding. I like to work on details, and the people around me have always encouraged me in this way.
What do you enjoy most about your work?: I enjoy all the phases of the creative process: the beginning, which is always a bit difficult, the ‘teenage’ phase when the piece is not very harmonious, and then, the nice balance it finally acquires. When the piece is finished, there is a moment when I separate myself from the object. The object has found its wholeness and can live its life.

Ariane Rubiella is an expert artisan: she began her career in 2002