Kirn, July 27, 2022
135 JAHRE BRAUN BÜFFEL
BRAUN BÜFFEL celebrates 135 years! Since 1887, the manufactory in the small town of Kirn has stood for the highest quality leather and craftsmanship. The German leather company is now in its fourth generation of family ownership. Here, tradition and expertise merge with new impulses and innovative ideas. Mindfulness, connection to nature, and appreciation for the natural product of leather are even more in focus in BRAUN BÜFFEL's anniversary year.
FAMILY TRADITION SINCE 1887
In 1887, at the age of 26, Johann Braun founded a craft business as a master saddler and upholsterer. He also began to produce tote bags and pouches. However, it was Alois Braun who first dared to take the bold step towards small leather goods, becoming the sole owner of the company in 1933.
In 1952, Alois' eldest son Hans-Werner Braun, a trained master fine leather maker, took over the technical management of the factory. His cash bag design proved to be a commercial success and was popular with business people. The BRAUN BÜFFEL brand as we know it today was born in 1974 under the management of Hans-Werner's younger brother Karl-Heinz. The buffalo as a trademark symbolizes power and strength and the affinity for leather. The company flourished.
Christiane Brunk has been managing BRAUN BÜFFEL since 2005, in the fourth generation, and is the first woman to head the company. Her vision: to transform the brand into a traditional yet modern lifestyle brand. She has never lost sight of the brand's roots. By incorporating classic elements paired with modern details, she has given BRAUN BÜFFEL a new identity that inspires young and old alike.
AN INVESTMENT IN THE FUTURE
In addition to a strong sense of tradition, the aspect of the future has played a central role since BRAUN BÜFFEL was founded. For this reason, and because the future of our planet is important to us, BRAUN BÜFFEL has decided to focus on sustainable, renewable energies. The aim is to contribute to resource conservation in the long term.
With a modern heating concept based on a heat pump, current gas consumption can be reduced by up to 70%. The heat pump is supplied with electricity via the company's own solar system, which was already installed in 2013. This creates a natural energy cycle and no further external energy sources are required.
CHANGING VALUES: BRAUN BÜFFEL PRODUCTION
To counteract the trend of cheap products and fast fashion, BRAUN BÜFFEL is focusing more than ever on high-quality products and durability. Trends come and go quickly, and consumer goods that follow these trends disappear just as fast. Timeless designs and high-quality products that are used for years and passed down from generation to generation promote a positive change in values towards greater appreciation and sustainability. This change is particularly reflected in the high quality and classic design of all BRAUN BÜFFEL collections.
MANUFACTURE IN OFFENBACH AM MAIN – EXPANSION OF THE MADE IN GERMANY COLLECTIONS
Craftsmanship Made in Germany is experiencing a resurgence. With its 135th anniversary, BRAUN BÜFFEL is returning to its roots: the MADE IN GERMANY collections. In the new factory in Offenbach am Main, which started operations at the beginning of 2022, high-quality leather goods are made by hand with the utmost care and attention. A total of four people work in the factory, who have the necessary know-how thanks to years of experience and raise the brand's quality standards to a new level.
The factory in Offenbach specializes in the production of high-quality women's bags. This significantly expands BRAUN BÜFFEL's production spectrum and preserves and maintains unique know-how.
YOUNG TALENT PROMOTION
In Germany, the craft of fine leatherwork has a long tradition. Today, there are only a few companies that offer this training. In Kirn and Offenbach, young people are encouraged to pursue a craft profession. Apprentices can learn the art of fine leatherwork from experienced experts.
The preservation and further development of craftsmanship skills is a core concern of the family business. BRAUN BÜFFEL has always stood for handcraft and attention to detail. In order to preserve the profession of fine leatherwork and to pass on the know-how acquired over decades, BRAUN BÜFFEL strives to bring young talent into the company and train them. Young ideas, coupled with years of tradition are the mix that is needed to stand out. BRAUN BÜFFEL does not rest on its laurels, but faces new challenges and establishes them in the historical background of the company's history.
FOR THE LOVE OF LEATHER
Creativity through new perspectives: By working with young artists, BRAUN BÜFFEL is breaking new creative ground. The focus is on the creative process, looking inwards at our values and traditions and looking forward to what is special, valuable and timeless.
Leather is variety and variety is life. BRAUN BÜFFEL stands for leather and its functionality. Because leather products are not only versatile, but also particularly durable. If cared for properly, they become long-term companions, which reduces the senseless consumption of goods and promotes sustainability. Why constantly renew when what already exists exists? That is why BRAUN BÜFFEL stands for lived quality, a high-quality feel and the love of the natural product leather.
A LOOK INTO THE FUTURE
BRAUN BÜFFEL is creative, ready to seize new opportunities, and open to the unconventional. In its anniversary year, several special projects are on the BRAUN BÜFFEL agenda.
In a few weeks, BRAUN BÜFFEL will present its Special Art Edition with Mainz artist Daniel Schweineberg. The collaboration combines art with the art of craftsmanship. With the input of the young creative, a harmonious symbiosis of high-quality leather products and artistic uniqueness is created. Art thus becomes an everyday companion, just like BRAUN BÜFFEL's leather goods.
BRAUN BÜFFEL is also pursuing a consistent path in e-commerce: The webshop will launch in Switzerland at the beginning of August, making it the first country-specific shop after the successful launch of the BRAUN BÜFFEL webshop in Germany in 2020.
