“La Horde” N° CO-198

It took me 45 years to fully embrace being an Artist. This came through deep reflection on the concept of Art itself, which in turn led me to launch the “Wearable Art” triptych to give it a fresh outlook.
This process resulted in a new vision: less academic, more accessible and personal—where artworks are worn, creased, and live alongside us.

To bring this to life, I chose to interpret three great classical disciplines: painting, sculpture, and music.
“La Horde” is the second piece, representing sculpture as an homage to Giacometti’s “L’Homme qui marche,” a work that also recalls the novel “La Horde du Contrevent” by Alain Damasio, which inspired its name – allowing me to honor yet another major art form!

I knew I wouldn’t find an existing pattern for this, so I sketched and built small paper models until satisfied. Then I scaled up my miniature pattern and tested it using premium faux-leather scraps destined to leave the studio. After a few adjustments, I was ready for the real thing.
Next came the leather. I wanted something textured, metallic, slightly raw—like the original sculpture. This remnant from a fellow artisan’s workshop sorting was exactly what I needed. Since it was a bit small, I complemented the base with leather salvaged from a damaged bag I had purchased and taken apart for its leather and hardware—perfect in both color and texture. I also reused the zipper and one of the handles.
For the lining, to keep the “red thread” running through this collection, I chose an upcycled synthetic satin bought from a seamstress.

That’s how I’m pleased to present this very chic and original handbag. It may not be perfect, but it is bold and full of character.