While fashion is often criticized for its lack of sustainability, Christelle Cozzi Voloir, founder of the upcycled luxury leather goods brand Voloir, is regarded as a pioneer. By honoring the memory of her father, Paul, she infuses deep meaning into her creation while embodying a vision of responsible luxury, where ethics and French craftsmanship meet.
Photo : ©christineledroitperrin
Hello Christelle! Who are you and where do you come from?
Hello Anne-Sophie, my name is Christelle Cozzi Voloir, I am 30 years old, and I am the founder of the innovative upcycled luxury leather goods brand, Voloir. Passionate about bags for over fifteen years, I’ve experienced a number of different lives. My original profession was journalism, but I left that behind four years later to enter retail, where I became a saleswoman, manager, and then store director. I also started and ran a business in luxury real estate before creating Voloir. The brand reflects this atypical journey: feel free to express all your facets, without ever compromising your values.
Where does this passion for bags come from, and how did you launch Voloir?
My passion for bags dates back to 2010, with the popularization of the 24h bag from Gérard Darel. Although my mother was the first to fall in love with that model, I quickly followed suit, although my interest then expanded to bags in general. Today, I can spend up to six hours per week analyzing the latest releases in stores.
Voloir was born in November 2022. Originally, the brand started as my final project for my first MBA. The concept was so well received that I received an excellence mention during the oral presentation, and it was highly recommended that I turn it into a real business.
“Voloir is a tribute to my father, Paul, who passed away when I was 16 years old. A lover of art and beautiful objects, he dedicated part of his life to traveling and collecting unique pieces with strong stories. Voloir aims to embody this art of living.”
Photo : Rodolphe Bricard
What would be your definition of “responsible luxury”?
“Responsible luxury” for me is a luxury that respects its traditions (exclusivity, high-quality materials, art of living, confidentiality, poetry) and its craftsmanship while having a vision focused on sustainability, reparability, and reducing its carbon footprint. At Voloir, I strive to embody this idea, to demonstrate that respect for the environment and the demands of luxury can coexist, just as they do with practicality for bags.
You emphasize French craftsmanship in your production. Can you tell us more about that?
I have never considered designing and manufacturing the Paul bags (and future models) anywhere other than France. It took about seven months to source the raw materials and select the leather goods, and nearly a year in total to define the entire production chain, including packaging. The specifications were strict and focused on ethics in every aspect. The technical tests (heat, humidity, durability, etc.) were also conducted in France with precise standards.
Photo : Alesia Reznik
Avoiding overproduction has become the mantra for committed fashion companies. Where do your materials come from, and what are they?
The main raw materials for the Paul bags are leathers sourced from the dormant stocks of the largest luxury houses. This offers several advantages: their origin is transparent, they comply with European and French regulations (including REACH*), they are of very high quality, and they do not lead to the creation of new materials. The sourcing of textiles for our packaging follows the same process. Whether for the Paul bags or for the packaging, the quantities purchased are precisely aligned to the production quantities to avoid generating waste.
Photo : Rodolphe Bricard
You have just launched the Paul bag. Can you say a few words about this innovative product that is suitable for modern times?
The Paul bag is the upcycled luxury bag that folds, unfolds, separates, and comes together according to your desires. Whether worn as a shoulder bag, a backpack, a crossbody, carried by hand, separated into two bags, or gathered into one, you choose how to wear it. It combines three usually antinomic universes: luxury, practicality, and responsibility. You can adapt it to all situations in your life while remaining elegant at every moment.
How would you define the style of Voloir?
The Voloir style is a balance between demand and freedom. The brand particularly appeals to people who live multiple lives in one, who need constant adaptability, who embody various personas while maintaining a certain elegance and discretion.
Photo : Rodolphe Bricard
You’ve chosen a pre-order system. What models are currently available and where can we buy them?
The Paul Grand Models in Black and Storm Blue are available for pre-order on voloir.com, in a unique numbered series from 1 to 50. You can choose your number at purchase. The black bags will be delivered starting December 19, and the storm blue bags will be delivered at the beginning of 2025 (date to be announced soon). The Paul Mini Camel will be available for pre-order in the first quarter of 2025. If you wish to stay informed about our news and releases, please sign up for the Voloir newsletter.
Photo : Rodolphe Bricard
What are your projects?
Currently, my main project and dream is to make Voloir a sustainable company, to develop the entire collection (there are 10 models as of now), to hire, and to continue raising awareness about the impact of our choices, both in our consumption habits and in the manufacturing processes of our products.
*The REACH regulation is an EU regulation that has been in force since 2006. It ensures the protection of health and the environment from risks related to chemical substances. For leather, this regulation applies to its tanning and transformation.
*Upcycling is the process of reusing unused materials to give them a new life as higher-quality products or materials.
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