RECIFE exceptional creator since 1930
1930
Constantin Samard inherited his passion for leather from a family in which three generations dedicated themselves to saddlery and horse equipment. In 1930, he set up his own company in Vincennes near Paris and quickly specialized in the manufacture of luggage.
1936
Always as a pioneer, Constantin Samard invented the Cabas bag and started using “toile enduite”, a special wax-coated fabric, to make large bags for shopping in France, thus inventing the French “tote bag”, used by millions of women around the world.
Furthermore, he designed and sold the first beach bag right when millions of workers gained access to paid holidays in France. The success was immediate with a lot of requests that led to a larger range of looks for this new bag.
1960
Suitcases and other travel bags designed for the first transatlantic and other long-haul-flight travelers were added to the historic Cabas and beach bags.
1987
Stephan Arnal, the grandson of Constantin Samard, took over the family business alongside Léo Smaga he met at school. Their friendship and their common passion for traditional craftsmanship and fashion enabled them to relaunch the company and its iconic products.
They took over the company’s heritage and add French elegance, innovative materials and vibrant colors to this heritage. Finally, they gave a name to their new collections: RECIFE Paris.
Today
RECIFE has become a global brand that accompanies modern men and women in their everyday life.
Our collections of writing instruments, leather goods and accessories are expressing “joie de vivre”, innovation, creativity and traditional craftsmanship.
