THE FRENCHMAN COMETH — TO DISARM US AGAIN

Augustin de Buffevént pays tribute to women's power by combining femininity and tenacity in his latest Fauré Le Page line.

- MILLET M. MANANQUIL

He's in Manila once again to disarm us — Augustin de Buffevént — the CEO of the French luxury brand Fauré Le Page, who is Richard Gere X Pierce Brosnan personified.

Fauré Le Page (FLP), founded in 1717 by a gunsmith, is deeply etched in French history and literature (notably, in the works of novelist Balzac). When it was acquired in modern times by De Buffevént, he combined history with craftsmanship by manufacturing luxury bags inspired by containers of weapons that were made for hunters and soldiers.

The new weapons in FLP's arsenal, which De Buffevént now introduces in Manila, are all-leather bags called Ladies First.

"Femininity meets tenacity in this collection inspired by the earliest armors in history. It has exquisite embroidery depicting the scales in an armor," he explains, "with unparalleled craftsmanship in calfskin." It comes in three colors — Powder Black, Sand and Forest Green.

We sat down with De Buffevént at the Sala in Greenbelt where SSI president Anton Huang led the launch of the new leather collection

Excerpts: PHILIPPINE STAR: During your visit to Manila last year, we talked about arms and war. Today, the Israel-Palestine conflict is still ongoing, and so is the Ukraine-Russia war. Meanwhile, Fauré Le Page is still armed... for seduction. It was originally a French firearms maker which later became Faure Le Page, a producer of holsters and gun bags. As a renowned bag maker, what are you armed for? What battles are you fighting now in the world of luxe retail?

AUGUSTIN DE BUFFEVÉNT: I was asked recently to explain what our motto, "Armed for Seduction," meant. It clearly is the "art of encounter" because there is seduction that you see, when you start discovering someone else. And you start to dialogue because there's seduction... then you're frightened. And there's a high risk to start a battle. I think it's a process of civilization.