Among my notable encounters in 2013 was that of Régis Dajczman. We learn a lot from each other, him because he really comes from the product, and us because we are digital children.
And in fact, Régis has had a very varied career, but always oriented towards creation: he has notably worked in music (as a composer, and he has his own little group , with the former guitarist of De La Soul).
He was also artistic director of the high-end Redskins leather line. And he made some pretty trendy t-shirts, eventually making small leather goods, because he loves leather and its uses. You will see, Régis is a creative person who constantly thinks about making ingenious and well-thought-out pieces...
Come on, a soundtrack:
Oh yes, Régis also founded luxury consignment stores ,
of the import-export of fabric, and was a chef.
Did you say 7 lives?
Cohesive leather goods
“Everything has a meaning” : that’s what Régis keeps telling me about his creations.
For example, his wallets and purses have a tiny hole that allows you to slide in what he called " the Magic Rope " (which I affectionately call the magic rope). This way, there is no risk of losing your wallet. In fact, Régis took the usual biker chains, but made one with braided leather. The visual rendering is much “softer” and natural:
Basically, it was a very practical key ring so you wouldn't lose your keys in the evening, but Régis had the idea of making it an accessory for his wallets.
Even though it's not the type of accessory I wear, I've seen a lot of rock/workwear looks in which the Magic Rope fit perfectly. A very nice, manly accessory for those who want to add a little something extra to their pair of Wolverines or Red Wings:
Damien, friend of Régis and big fan of rock and vintage clothing,
wears it very easily in her look.
A lot of care is taken in the making. Régis is extremely demanding on leathers and the assembly is very robust: no worries about the quality. Vegetable leathers are used. Please note, this does not mean that they are of plant origin! These are indeed leathers from animals, but the tanning process (slow over several weeks) only involves plant or bark extracts, unlike industrial tanning which (unfortunately) uses a lot of polluting chromium. .
The result ? A much more natural appearance and which improves much better over time. Régis really appreciates oily leathers, which have a very particular appearance in the light. They also patina more quickly and with more color nuances.
The parts are also guaranteed for life, something rare enough to underline!
The famous Atamé bracelet (made in Paris)
You are starting to know this one well as I wear it every day . I have two, a brown and a red , and people ask me all the time where it comes from, because obviously this bracelet intrigues people. The name comes from Spanish ("tie me up") and more specifically from a film by Pedro Almodovar .
Régis wanted a fairly "wide" look on the wrist, but without having the cheesy side of the strength bracelet. He therefore invented this system of sliding rings on these leather straps which works quite well. The result is an easy, authentic and masculine design.
Bonus: it can serve as handcuffs.
Don't let go!
It comes in many different colors, and each time in very beautiful naturally tanned leathers. I really like the colors, because they contrast with the dull colors we're used to seeing in accessories: no, it's not just brown or black! There is an electric blue, a blood red (my favorite) or a vibrant orange.
Régis had not planned to make so many colors, but his first colored Atamé were so successful that he expanded the palette of shades. What to wear them with? Well if you've been following us for a long time, you know that accessories aren't meant to be a hassle: the question doesn't need to be asked . Even if you have a fairly clean and crisp style, adding a leather strap is not a problem. Remember, Italians have been doing this for a long time .
It's definitely my favorite piece, not a day goes by without me wearing it.
The Atamé, very nice in blue.
The Dragonfly
As usual with When I Was Seventeen, the colors remain super original.
Another project by Régis which was born from his daily life. He was tired of having ugly and bulky glasses cases, so he designed a very colorful case in thick leather that protects the lenses of your glasses , called the Dragonfly because of its shape when the case is unfolded . I haven't used it yet, but Geoffrey, who has been bringing it everywhere since this summer, is very happy with it. In any case, his idea has come a long way, since the Libellule has had great success with quite a few high-end opticians.
It's quite stupid but no one had thought of it.
The belt
Régis' idea was simple: to remake a police belt from the 1950s that was very wide, virile and solid . And when you pick one up for the first time you say to yourself "oh yeah, it's going to have to be done a little" . It's typically the kind of piece that needs to age a little to break the new feel. But given the quality, it's a belt that will last you for years. His big strong point? It is available in multiple colors: because having a blue or red belt is simply great!
Don't be afraid of color, it will go easily with a casual outfit!
I haven't tested the belt on a daily basis, and I'm actually saying to myself that I should have! Be careful, it is quite wide. It was really designed for a good big, sturdy raw jean.
It will be perfect if you have an imposing build like Régis. The Atamé and the Magic Rope are also hidden in this photo, could you find them?
The wallet/purse part
Let me be clear, I hate having my pockets too full, especially bloated wallets. I can't understand why some people go out on Saturday evening with all their loyalty cards for example. So I used the bare minimum: an Ogon card holder that has stood the test of time, and that's it! As a result, I wasn't that excited when Régis asked me to test his wallets, because I didn't see the use for me. And yet...
The “MiniBoy”
So I tested the Miniboy for a long time. First observation, the leather patinates very nicely, it exudes quality, as I expected . There are actually three compartments: a card compartment, a zipped compartment and a third in the form of a gusset. Well, I didn't think that a seemingly basic configuration could be so clever. This thing really made me think: where Régis was very clever, is that he made just ONE card compartment (where you can put several) and not card compartments, like on all the classic wallets.
Result... It takes up much less space when you have several cards and the wallet is not bloated! The zipped pocket is also very practical for small change, and the bellows compartment will happily accommodate your notes and other business cards. Bank cards, small change and notes are thus separated in a compact wallet which will patina nicely. A very nice little extra: finally some bright red wallets!
Note that there is a larger version, the BigBoy:
But I haven't tested it, so I can't tell you what it's like on a daily basis. For those unfortunate people who need to carry around a lot of papers, it will be perfect.
The “Tukan”
Seeing that Régis was having difficulty managing his small change, he tackled this problem and decided to make a small wallet: the Tukan . The toucan beak shape (hence the name) is actually designed to follow the rounded shape of your jeans pocket.
It's quite simple, but it's much more comfortable to carry thanks to the rounding, it fits naturally as it should in your pocket. Nicolas from the team loves it, but for my part, I wanted something bigger where I could also put my bank cards or metro tickets. But Régis thought of everything, so he took out the...
The “Big Tukan”
A member of the team is hiding in this video, can you find him?
This is the big brother of the Tukan, the Big Tukan, ID card format : three inserts for bank cards (two on the outside and one on the inside), and a clever integrated key ring . In fact, you can no longer lose your keys because they are permanently attached to your wallet and they do not damage your pocket. It's very well thought out...
The way the Big Tukan fits in your pocket.
Well it is clear that this Big Tukan is a great success . This is what I use every day and the rounded shape means it fits like a glove in my pocket. The zip is also on this side (and not the right side) and it is very pleasant, because it can open wide, which is very practical for getting small change.
The shape and colors are unique and cannot be found elsewhere , so it is really a strong product from the brand.
One more thing...
Finally, I didn't think that small leather goods could be so much in the image of its creator (and have so much to tell): masculine, virile, authentic (thanks to the quality of the skins) but also colorful, creative. It’s 100% Régis. Lovers of beautiful accessories have no reason to deprive themselves.
For my part - and I didn't think it was possible - having When I Was Seventeen accessories really gave me a taste for everyday leather goods that age well . While the offering is saturated with sad black or brown wallets, I am now much more partial to a red-dyed vegetable leather that ages nicely. And that 's only Régis who offers such colorful things with a real creative effort behind it .
While we live in a world where aging is often synonymous with ugliness, having minimally creative objects, used on a daily basis, and which become more beautiful with time, I find that great.
Régis distributes his products on his e-shop When I Was 17 . And there is also a Kiss Kiss Bank Bank campaign (the French equivalent of Kick Starter) which allows you to obtain some of the parts at a very low price considering their quality and their "indestructible" side (on the other hand the campaign only remains online for 12 days).
