Chénier is a small leathercraft atelier in Kadıköy. It is run by two classical musicians who are interested in the craft. They have been growing their passion over the years, crafting for themselves and their close circle. The couple then decided to evolve their craft into a brand that retails luxury leather goods.

 

They named the atelier and the brand after André Chénier, an early romantic French poet born in Galata. He was executed during The French Revolution after siding against executions, and his story was written and composed for opera (Andrea Chénier, 1896). The couple wanted to pay respect to the fellow Istanbulite artist and help his memory live on.

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We wanted to associate Chénier, both the poet and the brand, with their iconic birth place, Istanbul. We first explored Byzantine icons along with typefaces of French style, to visualize the historic background of Galata. The brand had to convey the finess of classical stage arts, relating to the fine crafstmanship and exclusivity of its products.