France's National day, and the whole world is celebrating their crafts !

This 14 July is France's national day. In memory of the taking of the Bastille on 14 July 1789, considered to be the first major intervention by the people of Paris in the course of the Revolution and in the French political scene.

In honour of this special day, we've chosen some products from French brands to show you just how good they are with their artefacts. From basics to originals. All customizable to your taste and brand identity. Let's check it out, s’il vous plait.

Opinel, a classic among classics.

Opinel, one of the most iconic knife, is a family business, managed today by François Opinel and Denis Opinel, progeny of the founder Joseph Opinel. The company manufactures products in the heart of the Alps, in Chambéry, whose quality and authenticity have earned the brand its reputation for almost 130 years. The complete collection ranges from knives to pocket tools and sport, as well as kitchen and table knives… In "Phaidon Design Classics", the Opinel pocket knife is named as one of the 999 most successful designs of all time by a jury of international designers.

Today, the Chambéry plant employs 130 people, which is the main factory, 75 of whom are directly involved in making the knives. Opinel makes it a point of honour to maintain its quality through regular checks and continuous improvement actions across the manufacturing chain, while ensuring respect for the environment with the aim of limiting the impact of our activity on nature. One of the company's key success factors is the protection of its brand, its products and its know-how. Opinel has no less than 900 legal protections (trademarks, models, patents, domain names) in over 100 countries.

The Opinel is a symbol of French craftsmanship, renowned for its quality, design and authenticity. The scout's best partner is also the essential for outdoor enthusiasts looking for adventure.

Find on our website our selection of Opinel knives to personalize.

Kraft notebook, the french savoir faire at its best.

La compagnie du kraft manufactures notebooks since 1930 in Gascogne. It is probably one of those company that still does everything the old-fashioned way (and that what makes it so charming right?). Philippe, the last bastion of male resistance in the workshop has now trained a new generation of typographers. But still, all their notebooks are prepared in the original 50m2 atelier using the same traditional method as before. Fun fact, originally, the notebooks were dedicated to professional foresters of the Landes that needed to take notes on the felling of trees.

The "kraft" manufacturing process is a perfectly closed loop. The natural fibre used exclusively by La Compagnie du Kraft is a sustainable raw material, 100% renewable and renewed, which allows for sustainable management of their resources. Their approach to sustainability is even more complete. You can check all their commitments on their website.

The company also honour the love for quality and long-lasting objects, just like us. Nowadays, customers are used to getting everything right away and don’t always have the time to appreciate this kind of extraordinary know-how. The kraft notebook may take more time to be created, but it's a notebook that's simple enough to stand up to the latest fashions, and strong enough to stand the test of time. On their website, we can read “If the world is changing, then it will be towards greater sincerity and care for others, with products that will have a lasting impact on the lives of those who buy them”. A lasting investment, don't you think?

Have a look at the kraft notebooks to customize with your logo or design.

AŸ Cactus, the greenest gift ever.

Coralie and Clémentine are the founders of AŸ, a French brand of cactus 100% made in Paris, whose pretty and very pop pots are customizable. All the production is made in a traditional way and in a local network in Paris. In 2015, they started the business by doing everything themselves: they had their own nurseries in the Paris region, planted the cactuses themselves and had a special printer at home to personalize the AŸ pots.

Today, although the company has expanded, Coralie and Clémentine feel it is extremely important to maintain this ecological and ethical approach of their business. For the sake of consistency and standardisation, they have now delegated the work of packing and printing, but have made it a priority to keep the production in Paris, where it all started. Cherry on the cake, with the FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) label, the paper used in their packaging complies with procedures guaranteeing sustainable forest management.

Check the AŸ Cactus to customize with your logo or design.

Obut, the real deal.

The game of boules, also known as Pétanque game, is thought to have originated in Provence, France. Today, known around the world, this game continues to please all types of players. The Boules were first made of clay, then stone, then wood and finally steel. More than just a sport, pétanque has become a culture in its own right.

For 4 generations, OBUT has been there for all of those who practice this game, whether they are enthusiasts or occasional players. From the small workshop once located in the heart of the village to their current factory in Saint-Bonnet-Le-Château, they are proud to have developed a local activity, 100% made in France. An OBUT team with a passion for the little ball, which day after day, from design to conception, from historical know-how to modern production, designs products of excellence appreciated on all continents.

In facts and figures, OBUT uses 2,000 tonnes of steel a year, produces 200,000 boules every month. A real deal but still 100% French. Alors, tu tires ou tu pointes ?

Discover our customizable boules OBUT.

Parker Jotter, the legendary pen made in France.

Making a Parker pen is a solemn act of creation. It requires not only experience, but also rare technical skills in areas as varied as mechanical design, prototyping and testing.

In the late 2010, the Parker Pen Company's has closed its factory in England and a part of the production was moved to Nantes, France. So, as crazy as it may sounds, the famour Jotter pens are now imprinted with "Made in France".

Let’s talk a bit about this star. The Jotter is the company second and best-selling retracting refillable ballpoint pen. The Jotter is distinguished by a plunger and cap made of stainless steel, a stylized arrow-shaped clip, a plastic or metal barrel and a metal tip end. It's a timeless pen that has stood the test of time and is still used and sold in large numbers around the world.

Also, so crazy but did you know that the Armistice marking the end of the Second World War was signed with a Parker 51 given to General Dwight D. Eisenhower by his friend Kenneth Parker? As well as General Douglas MacArthur signed the armistice with the Japanese in his wife's Duofold. Such an iconic pen isn’t it?

Customize your timeless Parker jotter pen.

Peugeot Paris Mill, the reals chefs know.

Peugeot is one of the most iconic French brands, deeply rooted in the collective imagination. For more than 200 years, Peugeot has been imagining, designing and manufacturing everyday objects, with the ambition of facilitating use and offering the best expression of taste. Everyone knows it for its cars, but less people know that behind this brand also lie the salt and pepper mills used by the greatest chefs.

The human-sized company is located in Franche-Comté. And in this French factory, EVERY-THING is made on site: design, technical development, but also manufacturing. The wood is turned, varnished or painted; the mechanisms are stamped, meticulously assembled with the know-how of a goldsmith. What results are objects of an incredible quality that will last a (or many?) lifetime(s).

Their approach to sustainability is what makes those objects even better. The wood used for Peugeot mills comes from European forests with the PEFC™ label. To protect the environment, shavings and sawdust from production are recovered and recycled. To finish the wooden mills, they now prefer to use water-soluble paints, which are more environmentally friendly.

See the famous Paris mill to personnalize for yourself.

Le beau thé, the french tea party.

Who doesn’t like a good cup of tea? And what better idea than having a teabag to personnalise, with a cute note, a joke or even as an original business card? Well, someone came up with the idea and they’re called “Le beau thé”.

Based in Paris, l'atelier Le Beau Thé is the story of two enthusiasts, Marcellin et Thuy, inviting you in a precious, refined and quirky world halfway between the gourmet shop and art.

The tea & infusions are sourced from all over the world (Japan, Sri Lanka, China,…) but are exclusively from organic crops and plots certified by European certifiers. The production and processing are made in France in their workshop in La Courneuve.

Since 2017 they’ve been sewing your bags by hand with sewing machines they’ve custom-developed and patented. Each sachet is the refined work of small French hands mastering an incredible & exclusive know-how, quality and precision. The muslin in the bags is also organic and Ecocert-certified. Last but not least, the company has an objective of using 0 plastic, neither in plants nor in packaging and the bags are biodegradable and compostable.

Personnalize your Le beau thé teabag with your logo, design or a specific note.

There's nothing left to prove: France is clearly the land of craftsmanship. From the Alps to Paris and the coast, every city is brimming with promising projects. They create products with a deep know-how, design and ingenuity. Qualitative artefacts, that you could keep a lifetime.

See even more products from our selection.

Once again, happy national day to all the Frenchies! 🇫🇷