Made in France: Focus on saddlery profession

Made in France: Focus on saddlery profession

made in france : focus on saddlery profession

“Made in France” at Devoucoux is a stated commitment in the service of quality.

Since 1985, we have been designing and manufacturing our saddles in our workshops in the Basque Country. A preservation of our know-how in France, inseparable from our values and guaranteeing a quality recognized throughout the world.

Trained in the heart of our workshops, our saddlers receive advice from the greatest in order to perfectly master the main skills of the saddlery craft, for your utmost satisfaction.

The making of a Devoucoux saddle requires 18 hours of work and the perfect mastery of the nine main stages in the life of a saddle: cutting, preparation, assembly, machine stitching and joining, panels, tree making, fitting, quality control, and oiling.

A know-how that is constantly evolving, integrating new technologies in the service of an exceptional craftsmanship, unequalled and remarkable.

Cutting

cutting

Cutting is the key stage in the making of a saddle and the first intervention of the saddler before the long manufacturing process. This essential step determines the final quality of the saddle.

The craftsman inspects the hide and identifies each defect: scars, loss of density in certain areas, vaccine marks, or traces of pests are all imperfections to be discarded.

He must also know the different zones of elasticity of the hide. Indeed, on the body of an animal, some areas are more elastic than others, an elasticity more or less desired for each piece that constitutes the saddle.

At the end of this meticulous observation, the saddler rigorously positions the pieces essential to the saddle in order to prepare the patterning.

At Devoucoux, we use a digital cutting technique to obtain different leather pieces. This step is carried out with the help of state-of-the-art machinery, guaranteeing great precision and optimal reliability, while sparing the craftsman the strain of the gesture.

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Preparing

preparing

Preparation consists in perfecting the aesthetics of the previously cut pieces and preparing the different stitching lines.

The pieces are split to obtain the desired thickness, and the craftsman runs the edge beveler over the raw edges in order to make them more rounded. The edges of the pieces, lighter than the grain, are slightly tinted to maintain uniformity for the next step. Finally, the stitching lines are drawn with a silver pencil or half-cut into the flesh side to protect the stitches on the pieces most subject to abrasion.


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Assembling

assembling

Assembly is divided into several distinct tasks according to the main components: the tree, the flaps, the seat, and the panels of the saddle.

During this stage, the unique characteristics of each saddle take shape: the tension and curve of the tree, the foam assembled with the leather of the flaps, the first stretching of the seat leather—first soaked in water to make it supple, then air-dried in order to preserve its natural qualities.

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Machine Stitching and Joining

Machine stitching and joining

The machine stitching stage is one of the most demanding carried out by our saddlers. It requires precision, dexterity, and perfect control of the machine in order to follow the complex curves of the different parts of the saddle.

Leather, a material both rich and delicate, calls for a unique expertise that we cultivate and perfect year after year at the heart of our workshops. Machine stitching makes it possible to join the small flaps as well as the seat, with impeccable mastery of the gesture: a true talent.

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The panels

The panels

The panel-making stage is crucial, as this is where our saddlers craft the part that will rest on your horse’s back, measured and customized by our experts directly in the stables.

With the help of a high-precision digital machine, we recut the panels according to the specific needs of each animal and those of the rider, whose balance point must be located at the center of the saddle.

The trees

The trees

Devoucoux saddles are available with wooden trees or trees with Dynamick technology.

At this stage, our craftsmen shape the tree of your saddle, designed to measure according to the model you chose in the stables, guided by the expertise of your Devoucoux saddler.

For the wooden tree, our craftsmen put nylon straps under tension on the framework and then place comfort foams, more or less thick, at the strategic points of the seat.

The tree with Dynamick technology, whose technical properties give it flexibility and durability, is designed 100% in France in our independent workshops. Our saddlers then insert the comfort foams into the locations provided for this purpose in order to reduce the close contact between the rider and his horse.

Putting Together

putting together

Fitting is the ultimate stage that brings to life the final appearance of the saddle, as we know it.

The saddlers assemble it piece by piece: from the seat leather on the tree, through the flaps and the billets, to the padding. This stage gives birth to a unique saddle, tailor-made for you, thanks to the know-how of the saddler, guarantor of the harmony and symmetry of each component.

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Le Montage

quality control

Throughout its journey, the saddle is subjected to compliance and quality checks.

This stage, however, is the ultimate control: once assembled, our saddles are meticulously inspected by our Devoucoux quality department.

Our quality saddler expert checks with the greatest rigor that each stage of the making has been correctly carried out. He also ensures that the customer’s wishes, the aesthetics, and the technical characteristics of the saddle are perfectly respected and enhanced.

L'Huilage

Oiling

Oiling is an essential stage, carried out with care in our workshops. It nourishes the leather in depth and gives it an initial protection as soon as it leaves production.

After several hours of drying, when the oil is fully absorbed, each saddle leaves our workshops, ready to join its new owner, enhanced and prepared to offer comfort and excellence with every stride.


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