Butcher Couture
Babou brings an intriguing international background to her designs for Butcher Couture – leather frames that are created with her philosophy of “Slow Design”. That is the term that the designer uses for her framecreations that are made with traditional manufacturing processes, and working with skilled craftspeople and artisans. She is also an avid believer in using natural materials whenever possible, and likes to design frames that merge both style and functionality.
I had the pleasure of meeting the personable and charming designer last summer in Paris, and was impressed not only with her innovative frames, but her philosophy and unconventional approach to frame design.
Babou was born in the Democratic Republic of Congo, but grew up primarily in the UK, and attended University in England. She now divides her time between Oslo and London, perfecting her craft of Optical Tailoring in frames, which are made in France – giving a global flavour to her products.
She emphasises that the overall focus of Butcher Couture is to offer design, quality and to evoke timelessness. In addition to frames available in boutiques, customers are able to purchase and commission frames on a made-to-order basis, and clients can choose from a selection of leathers, threads and various finishes. “I’ve always enjoyed a love affair with leather, which I believe is inherently linked to my love of all things craft and artisan,” she says, “and since starting Butcher Couture in 2007, my passion for leather is a crescendo into somewhat of a full blown obsession.
Traditional leather making is an art form to be celebrated in my opinion.”That celebration at Butcher Couture includes using leathers tanned with natural agents that allow wearers to feel the tactile elements of the material, with its distinctive grains, knowing that two hides will never be the same. She also believes that “there is something special and priceless about a material which continues to evolve and accrue in beauty over time.”
Babou’s fascination with leather does not exclude the possibility that she might one day create in other materials. “Wood is a material that I would love to explore within our eyewear, perhaps in combination with leather. I am always on the lookout for other materials, but for the time being, we are content on exploring and mastering the endless possibilities that leather has to offer within our frames.” Butcher Couture frames are available at Juno & Jove in Sarasota, Florida, and Granville Optical in Vancouver, Canada. JG
An exciting new website will be unveiled shortly at www.butcher-eyewear.com