Pierre-Baptiste L'Hospital, artisan boot maker and 2025 winner of the Young Artistic Creation Prize

Winner of the prize for young artistic crafts creation at the 30th edition of the International Cultural Heritage Fair, Pierre-Baptiste L’Hospital looks back on his atypical career, his love of leather and his vision of the bootmaking profession, which is still too little known.

You are originally from Alsace, but today you work in Paris. What was your journey?

I make tailor-made items for men and women, entirely by hand. I also offer consulting for other companies in the shoe sector. The name “Arpent” comes from the idea of walking, of exploring. I removed the “e” for a more international touch. I have my workshop in Neuve-Église, in Bas-Rhin, on my native land, but I also have a base in Paris: it’s easier to meet my customers.

I started a law course at the Faculty of Strasbourg, but I stopped after meeting designers working at Adidas — the brand then had offices in Alsace, in Landersheim. These professionals introduced me to the world of shoes. I was fascinated by the diversity of materials and styles: from classic to sportswear, and that we can work equally well for children, women, men…

I’ve caught the shoe bug! I then applied for artisanal and industrial training, and I was accepted into the Compagnons du Devoir. I did my Tour de France for eight years in prestigious workshops: Berluti (LVMH), Massaro (Chanel), John Lobb (Hermès)…

You created a masterpiece for the Compagnons du Devoir. Can you tell us about it?

It’s a calfskin piece for women, very sculptural and sheathed, which required around 600 hours of work in my free time, evenings and weekends. The heel is made up of 56 strips of leather, glued before being sculpted by hand. I wanted to create a retro-futuristic object, minimalist but expressive. A mix of tradition — with hand-stitched assembly — and modernity through design.

You created your own brand, Arpent. What is your activity today?

What drives you in your activity as a bootmaker?

It’s a profession that focuses us on a task, a project from A to Z. We work with wood, leather, metal, fabric… There is something spiritual, almost meditative in my professional practice. In the privacy of my workshop, when I am alone, focused on my tasks, I escape from the world, from routine.

What types of leather do you use?

Calf, cow, lamb, but also other materials: rubber, natural linen thread, sometimes fish scales or exotic leathers like crocodile — but always in compliance with legislation. We favor raw hides, which are more durable.

What qualities do you need to become a bootmaker?

None ! Anyone can do it, as long as they have the passion. And this passion, for me, was born from encounters. We need masters, guides. I had the chance to meet wonderful men and women who passed on their knowledge to me.

What does this prize and your presence at the International Cultural Heritage Fair mean to you?

It is a recognition, of course, but above all an opportunity to highlight the profession of bootmaker, which is still too little known. In France, there are barely five or six companies that practice it. Participating in the Show means showing that this profession exists, that it is alive, that it is evolving.

At my level, I try to pass on this know-how by being a trainer at JM Weston, a shoe manufacturer based in Limoges. I also serve as an internship supervisor at the Compagnons du Devoir. Finally, I participated in a book called The bootmaker’s workshopwritten by Guénolée Milleret, which has just been published by Editions du Canezou.

Art Deco celebrates its 100th anniversary this year. Is this a source of inspiration for you?

Yes, especially in working with shapes. I find the Art Deco spirit more in the wood for my molds than in the leather. It’s an aesthetic that inspires me for shoe silhouettes.