Au Départ

Au Départ is a Paris leather goods house that dates its founding to 1834 and began as a maker of trunks for travellers, as European rail travel took off. The brand's own site places its first boutiques near the Palace Garnier, while END puts the first shop opposite Gare du Nord. Today the range includes totes, shoulder bags, card holders, wash bags and luggage tags. The Cité Tote and Céleste shoulder bag come in full leather or in the hexagonal monogram, first introduced in 1910. The hexagon runs through the brand's thinking, and it links the shape to the outline of France. In the UK, END stocks it.