The manufacturing
The time it takes to handcraft a fan is a special moment between the mind, the hands and the material.
Each step is a moment of pleasure that I like to share on this page.
Les photos arrivent bientôt.
The tools
A few hand tools will be necessary to make the Zef, which will mainly require small, active hands and small, precise gestures motivated by desire and inspiration.
The choice of leathers
The final choice is a compromise between inspiration, creation, possibility and quality.
Particular attention is paid to the different treatments of the leather which I prefer to be as natural as possible, but certain very pretty prints do not allow these processes.
Les photos arrivent bientôt.
Les photos arrivent bientôt.
Gluing and cutting
Once the leathers are glued and completely dry, the blades can be cut.
Sewing
Each fan is sewn with the Sellier stitch. This stitch is made with two needles fixed on the ends of the same thread. We pass a thread above and a thread below at each point. It is an extremely solid stitch. After having made the pre-holes, the sewing can be done.
Les photos arrivent bientôt.
Les photos arrivent bientôt.
The finishes
A beeswax-based gum is applied to the slices. These are then rubbed vigorously to create heat, uniformizing the gum which will make the slices waterproof.
The fan is then finished. Its design will allow it to last for years, improving for the most natural leathers. Some printed leathers may be more or less fragile, sometimes even requiring careful handling.
