TANNERIE D'ANNONAY KARAGRAIN LONGCHAMP

Tannerie d’Annonay KARAGRAIN LONGCHAMP premium embossed leather by Yuki Shirahama Bottier

KARAGRAIN LONGCHAMP from Tannerie d'Annonay in France. Its uniformly embossed surface with depth, combined with the high stability of its grain, is why Yuki Shirahama Bottier has continuously chosen this leather for many years—its characteristic of maintaining form even after extensive wear.

TANNERIE D’ANNONAY, a leather manufacturer located in the Annonay region of France.

The history of leather manufacturing dates back to 1838, when tanneries such as Meyzonnier and Combe existed, and the Annonay region developed as a leather production area. Although the current Annonay company was established as a corporation in 1984, it is underpinned by a leather-making culture that has continued since 1838, with the lineage of technology and artisans passed down through the region's history.

It is a tannery that handles everything from raw hide selection to tanning, dyeing, and finishing, with a particularly high level of perfection in the final "surface design" process.

The KARAGRAIN series "LONGCHAMP" from Annonay is what Yuki Shirahama Bottier has chosen for many years.

Characteristics of LONGCHAMP Embossing

The embossing of LONGCHAMP is uniform, yet it has subtle linear nuances within its grain. It's not a perfectly round grain, but rather a texture that feels slightly elongated vertically. This prevents it from appearing monotonous when viewed as a whole surface, and it creates depth depending on how the light hits it.

Instead of a soft, rounded impression, it presents a neat and sharp appearance. This "line within the embossing" is what changes the impression when crafted into shoes.

Close‑up texture of KARAGRAIN LONGCHAMP embossed leather by Yuki Shirahama Bottier

Stability of Finish

The characteristic of LONGCHAMP that Yuki Shirahama Bottier possesses lies in the stability of KARAGRAIN's grain surface. KARAGRAIN is renowned as a smooth, aniline-finished full-grain calfskin and has been used in bespoke shoes since ancient times. The grain layer of KARAGRAIN combines delicacy with stability in appearance when worn. Possessing moderate suppleness that doesn't stretch excessively, it is a leather with a finish that helps the topline resist loosening and maintains its elegant silhouette over many years.

Detailed view of finish on KARAGRAIN LONGCHAMP leather highlighting stability and finish

Although Annonay's official finishing methods are not publicly disclosed, from our long experience working with this leather in shoemaking, we sense the following:

・The way the binder is applied

・The thickness and uniformity of the surface film

・The temperature of heat treatment and the applied pressure

*Binder and surface film are each one of several finishing layers applied during the surface processing of leather.

We feel that the balance of these three elements is extremely well-maintained, and the finish appears to be integrated with the grain rather than simply having a coating applied on top.

Therefore,

・Minimal grain lift occurs

・Crease valleys are resistant to whitening

・The surface rarely appears layered

These characteristics help maintain the shoe's lines even after years of wear. Compared to Annonay's smooth leather VOCALOU, the softness of its fibers is particularly noticeable. It responds flexibly to bending, making it extremely comfortable to break in.

Overview of KARAGRAIN LONGCHAMP leather showing color and grain structure by Yuki Shirahama Bottier

Difference from RUSTICALF GRAIN

RUSTICALF, another grain leather from Annonay, is quite the opposite. It has a finish that leverages the natural suppleness of the leather, making it suitable for enjoying age-related changes as its luster and color deepen over time.

KARAGRAIN LONGCHAMP, on the other hand, is a leather that maintains its form rather than being one to enjoy changes. From the perspective of "maintaining form" from the initial wear to several years later, KARAGRAIN LONGCHAMP aligns perfectly with that concept.

Currently only available from stock

This specification of KARAGRAIN LONGCHAMP has not been available in the domestic market for over a decade (as of February 2026). Furthermore, it couldn't be found in overseas markets either, so Yuki Shirahama Bottier commissioned Annonay to produce it over a decade ago. We are currently offering only this existing stock, with no plans for reordering at this time. The raw hides from over a decade ago were of high quality, making this a highly recommended leather.

Current in-stock ready-to-wear leather shoes collection by Yuki Shirahama Bottier

The KARAGRAIN LONGCHAMP from Yuki Shirahama Bottier maintains its shape and appearance even after continuous wear. We believe this stability is the value of this leather. It is approximately 1.2-1.4mm thick and available in four colors: black, dark brown, light brown, and burgundy.

If you wish for this leather, please let us know during your consultation.

Written by
Yuki Shirahama Bottier
Yuki Shirahama
Asami Murayoshi