In Conversation with Alex Rousseau of Bleu De Chauffe

We spoke with Alex to learn more about his background in luxury goods, his design philosophy, French textile heritage, and much more.

James Smith

Bleu de Chauffe has become the go-to destination for heritage-inspired bags of the highest quality. Crafting each and every bag in-house in Averyon, South of France, Bleu de Chauffe emphasizes local supply chains and top-tier production techniques to ensure heirloom quality goods that will only look better as they are used for many years.

Behind Bleu de Chauffe is Alex Rousseau, a talented designer who founded the brand to connect heritage-fuelled design with true craftsmanship. We spoke with Alex to learn more about his background in luxury goods, his design philosophy, French textile heritage, and much more.

Heddels: How did you first get into the world of product?

Alex Rousseau: I trained as a designer. Early in my career, I worked across different worlds – luxury, high-end, and sportswear – with a focus on leather goods, a field that demands precision and craftsmanship.

I also had the chance to explore the world of watchmaking, which left a deep impression on me: its discipline, its obsession with detail, its sense of purpose. Those values have stayed with me ever since.

H: How did you arrive at the founding of Bleu de Chauffe?

AR: At one point, I had to choose between continuing as an employee or taking a leap into my own project. I was still young, and I figured it was better to take risks and pursue what truly mattered to me rather than live with regret.

At the time, I was traveling constantly, visiting beautiful workshops in Europe and factories in Asia, where working conditions were often very harsh. That contrast was a wake-up call. It convinced me that another way was possible – one that reconnects design with real craftsmanship, values the people behind each product, and gives meaning to every gesture.

Bleu de Chauffe was born from that conviction and from a desire to create pieces that reflect who I am: somewhere between workwear, elegance, and the outdoors.

Bleu de Chauffe has become the go-to destination for heritage-inspired bags of the highest quality. Crafting each and every bag in-house in Averyon, South of France, Bleu de Chauffe emphasizes local supply chains and top-tier production techniques to ensure heirloom quality goods that will only look better as they are used for many years.

Behind Bleu de Chauffe is Alex Rousseau, a talented designer who founded the brand to connect heritage-fuelled design with true craftsmanship. We spoke with Alex to learn more about his background in luxury goods, his design philosophy, French textile heritage, and much more.

Heddels: How did you first get into the world of product?

Alex Rousseau: I trained as a designer. Early in my career, I worked across different worlds – luxury, high-end, and sportswear – with a focus on leather goods, a field that demands precision and craftsmanship.

I also had the chance to explore the world of watchmaking, which left a deep impression on me: its discipline, its obsession with detail, its sense of purpose. Those values have stayed with me ever since.

H: How did you arrive at the founding of Bleu de Chauffe?

AR: At one point, I had to choose between continuing as an employee or taking a leap into my own project. I was still young, and I figured it was better to take risks and pursue what truly mattered to me rather than live with regret.

At the time, I was traveling constantly, visiting beautiful workshops in Europe and factories in Asia, where working conditions were often very harsh. That contrast was a wake-up call. It convinced me that another way was possible – one that reconnects design with real craftsmanship, values the people behind each product, and gives meaning to every gesture.

Bleu de Chauffe was born from that conviction and from a desire to create pieces that reflect who I am: somewhere between workwear, elegance, and the outdoors.

H: You previously worked at Richemont. What did the luxury world teach you — and what did you want to do differently at Bleu de Chauffe?

AR: There are many forms of luxury. Some houses carry a genuine heritage, where craftsmanship and quality are everything. Others use the word “luxury” mainly as a marketing tool.

I was lucky to learn my craft in exceptional ateliers where every gesture mattered, and where creativity was inseparable from production. That discipline shaped my vision and became the backbone of Bleu de Chauffe.

We wanted to build something unique – a company that controls every step. Every bag is made entirely in-house, without outsourcing, and each one is dated and signed by the artisan who crafted it.

It’s our way of guaranteeing authenticity and traceability, and of honoring the human hand behind the work.

H: Bleu de Chauffe has an impressive local supply chain. How important is it for you to source materials locally?

AR: Quality and design always come first. But proximity plays a key role, too. It allows us to build long-term relationships with our partners – people we’ve often worked with for many years.

That human connection is essential. It ensures consistency, responsiveness, and constant quality control. Of course, we always seek the best materials, but we’ve found that a close, trust-based partnership often leads to the best results.

Bleu de Chauffe Chiloé Backpack, available for $450 from Bleu de Chauffe.

H: You use a lot of waxed cotton. We often hear about its British or American heritage — what about in France?

AR: We work with different kinds of coated fabrics. One of them comes from British Millerain, a historic name in waxed cotton. But we also collaborate with a French manufacturer who carries on a unique tradition: their fabrics were once used to make scout tents and to restore the sails of historic ships – like Lafayette’s galleon – or even the canvas tops of WWII Jeeps.

That same fabric, strong and full of history, is what we use on some of our bags. Keeping that link with French textile heritage is something we truly care about.

H: Are there parts of France’s craft or sartorial history that you think don’t get enough attention?

AR: We’re based in Aveyron, a region where the culture of leather is still very much alive. The presence of luxury houses here has helped preserve incredible know-how, and local schools continue to train young leather artisans.

At Bleu de Chauffe, we look for people who share our passion and want to invest themselves in this adventure. We handle much of the training in-house, passing down our techniques and standards to the next generation.

H: Many Bleu de Chauffe products are rooted in history and storytelling. Where do you find inspiration? Do you collect vintage pieces yourself?

AR: Inspiration comes from many places. Before founding Bleu de Chauffe, I collected old work bags, and that heritage remains at the heart of our identity. The materials, textures, colors, and the way a fabric falls – every detail feeds creation.

Experimentation is also part of our DNA. Our workshop is just a few meters from my office, so every idea can quickly turn into a prototype. We test, adjust, start over – sometimes ten times – until we find the right balance.

But our greatest inspiration is our customer. We design every product with their life in mind: how they move, what they wear, how they carry themselves. Every new piece begins with that vision of the Bleu de Chauffe silhouette.

H: Is there something you’ve always wanted to produce but haven’t been able to yet?

AR:  A few years ago, we launched our own work jacket, Le Bleu de Chauffe. Back then, we didn’t yet have the technical capability to produce it ourselves. When our external workshop closed, I decided to bring that production fully in-house. It took nearly a year of training and adjustment, but we made it happen.

We did the same with our T-shirts.

Today, the only product we don’t make ourselves is our Cancale sailor sweater, which is produced by a French workshop specializing in marine knitwear. We work closely with them, and two new versions will arrive this winter.

H: And is there something you think Bleu de Chauffe should never produce?

From the start, I set three guiding principles for Bleu de Chauffe:

• A style at the crossroads of elegance, workwear, and outdoor

• Local, artisanal production that we fully control

• The use of beautiful, natural, durable materials

Everything we make has to align with those foundations. A product that doesn’t fit this philosophy or can’t be made in a way that respects our values simply has no place here.

A beautiful product is a well-made product. It’s as simple as that.

Bleu de Chauffe Chiloé Backpack, available for $450 from Bleu de Chauffe.

Bleu de Chauffe Chiloé Backpack, available for $450 from Bleu de Chauffe.

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