Le mouton, compagnon des hommes
depuis des millénaires
From the Middle East, the Maghreb, Greece and Ancient Rome to the South of France, sheep have been the symbol of religious and economic life around the Mediterranean for over ten thousand years.
Protector of his flock and deeply attached to its rhythm, the shepherd's only luggage was a sack.
A bag with pockets and compartments to hold food, ointments, knives and tools.
Sturdy, roomy bag to protect clothes and woollens, and to hold a large umbrella against its flap.
Supple bag, worn over the shoulder, to follow the curves of the body.
Our leather craftsmen are committed to offering you the best possible products. Here, every bag is made with care, using traditional production methods and ensuring that every detail is perfectly executed. Leather bags are built to last, offering timeless elegance and style that never goes out of fashion.
From the bag from shepherd with bag from shepherd
In Layrolle, between the Causses and the Cévennes, on the edge of Larzac, near Millau, leather and wool are still being worked.
A secular heritage of southern pastoralism - its current form dates back to the 18th centurye siècle, le sac du berger est encore utilisé de nos jours par les bergers transhumants du sud de la France. La qualité des cuirs, l’exigence et le soin du travail, font de ce sac un objet unique et le compagnon de toute une vie. Mariage de cuir souple et de cuir épais aux coutures invisibles, il est agrémenté d’une bouclerie en laiton massif.
Chaque sac, ainsi que tous les autres objets de l’atelier, sont fabriqués artisanalement : réalisés entièrement par la même personne, dans une même unité espace-temps.
A work organization with people at the center
At Le Sac du Berger, there's no assembly-line work. Each person makes his or her own object from start to finish.
To achieve this, each employee has a personal workspace of at least 15 m². All the machines needed to produce the object are located in this space, to combine efficiency and working comfort. The processes used are artisanal, traditional without being archaic, and respectful of the individual and the value of his or her work.
Noble, natural materials
Le sac du Berger has always opted for natural materials. In addition to full-grain cowhide, goat or lamb leather (for garments), the wool used for coats is 100% virgin. The atelier goes so far as to divert wool normally used for upholstery, to use it as a fluid lining for its jackets. The aim is to use only natural, breathable materials.
Quality French manufacturing
Our objects are made in our workshop in Layrolle, in the south of Aveyron.
Each "companion" piece is carefully crafted by a single person. The manufacture of the shepherd's bag, our flagship item, resonates with the values of southern pastoralism. The workshop's love of handicraft and craftsmanship enables it to perpetuate an ancestral tradition.
Everything from bags to shoes to coats is designed to be durable and repairable.
Ecological impact
All our raw materials come from within a 120-kilometer radius of our workshop. Leathers come from Aveyron or Hérault. Wool comes from the Tarn region. This local sourcing not only helps to limit the carbon footprint of our business, it is above all part of a commitment on our part that has remained unchanged for over 40 years. The tanneries, spinning mills and others are not just suppliers, but genuine partners with whom the workshop has always built up a relationship of trust. This partnership assures us of follow-up and "top-of-the-range" quality.
Le berger, l’actif urbain…
Des hommes en mouvement
Like the shepherd who roams the plains and plateaus with his flock, today's working and non-working urbanites are more than ever on the move. The shepherd's bag, with its many interior and exterior pockets, enables them to carry, protect and "touch" the accessories and tools they need for their daily activities. More broadly, the objects made in the workshop are designed to be functional and timeless, true "companion objects".