Causse Gantier
Glove makers
France
For over 120 years, Causse, the French ‘manufacture’ has devoted itself to producing gloves or veritable jewels for the hands from Millau, in south-west France.
The fourth generation of the Causse family are now at the helm, but in 2012 the label was acquired by Chanel as part of its Metiers d'Art stable. Causse is ultimately a fashion brand – their gloves brimming with details such as studded eyelets, pompoms, rich embroidery and metallic varnish. Made in beautiful soft lambskin leathers, they are cut in bold masculine styles or to seductively reveal the wrist in the most flattering and feminine way.
Causse has a coterie of fans including Karl Lagerfeld, Madonna and Kylie Minogue. Collaborations include bejewelled styles by Delfina Delettrez, a line by graffiti artist André and designs by Rodarte and Hugo Matha.
As the oldest glove manufacture still operating in Millau, Maison Causse produces 25,000 pairs of gloves each year, created by a design team and 40 artisans. Gloves are cut by hand and the linings – silk, cashmere, and sheepskin – are all made from natural fabrics. One pair of gloves can take over a week to make.
Classic driving styles remain the most popular. Perhaps the most distinguishing feature of the handmade Causse gloves is the ‘fourchette’ which sits between the fingers. It is cut from one piece of leather and its seams are created in a concertina effect which are specific to the shape of the gloves.
Now that gloves are worn as much for style as for warmth, the plethora of details and adornment is infinite.
