Bertrand Mak talks about his favourite Sauvereign pieces
Tatler Lister and owner of shoe brand Sauvereign (formerly R. Sanderson) Bertrand Mak is looking to create the “Birkins of shoes.” The former watch specialist at Christie’s also spent time under the LVMH group and takes his experience to Sauvereign, where he’s infusing 24K gold leaf and other intricate forms of artistry onto “gems” or plaques on pumps to create jewellery for the feet. Here are his favourite styles and the inspirations behind them.
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Having been exposed to the world of mechanical watches and classical music at a very young age (not exactly an orthodox pairing, I know), I have always had an eye for the devil in the details. I yearn to understand how art, in whatever form, can transcend time and be immortal.
With Aphrodite, my first bag collection, I embarked on another journey of challenging the status quo to create an everyday object that embodies both form and function, that can transcend time. For over a year I kept my head down on perfecting the line and shape to ensure this new creation would not become a one day in the sun fashion accessory. I was enormously fortunate to have discovered hugely talented artisans who made it possible for Aphrodite to not only be fully handmade, but fully hand-stitched in France using the century-old and fading saddle stitching technique.
There is a living person who spends hours stitching every thread on my bags, giving each one soul—I find that very emotional, like music or poetry. The lock mechanism and handle system, invented by yours truly, is a first in the industry. I drew inspiration from an essential mechanism found in watches—the "Gem" buckles can be interchanged at will, and the handle and shoulder straps are interchangeable, too, rendering a clean, pure aesthetic, with an element of surprise. I simply don't understand why the shoulder strap must cling on to the handle, which can look clumsy.
