Robert Mercier Profile in Elle Canada by Leah Van Loon
I recently had an article published in the November 2025 issue of Elle Canada featuring the work and savoir-faire of leather artist, Robert Mercier. He has a gift for sculpting these by-product natural leathers into high-fashion haute couture and celebrity looks that go viral, and I really love his work with Schiaparelli. When I was at the Schiaparelli exhibition with my Fashion Experience Tours group in 2022 at the Musée des Arts Décoratifs, his work was highlighted so beautifully, as you can see by my photo.
A leather bodice and bag sculpted by Robert Mercier for Schiaparelli on display at the Musée des Arts Décoratifs from my Fashion Experience Tour in 2022.
It’s incredible to me that Robert has dedicated himself to this metier since high school, and how each of his jobs paved the way or fueled the work he does now. Having exceptional skills helps, and a willingness to experiment and take risks. Like many of the other artisans I have met or written about, he is also an artist with his own point of view, and his is a very cool rock-and-roll kind of vibe. Here are a couple of photos of the things I mention in the article that weren’t included as images, like his art leather pieces and his super cool mini matrix of the Zendaya wet-look leather dress.
An image from the exhibition featuring creations and images by leather craftsman Rober Mercier at the Joyce Gallery in Paris, featuring the “Hitch” bag that looks like the house from Hitchcock’s film, Psycho.
Créée par Robert Mercier, la robe Balmain a été portée par l'actrice Zendaya à la Mostra de Venise en 2021. © Julie Limont, studio Hanslucas.
And here is the article itself or you can read it on the Elle Canada website. Thanks for checking it out, and if you want to visit Paris to meet some of the artisans I write about, please consider my tours in Paris!
Robert Mercier Haute Artisan “Skin Contact” by Leah Van Loon for Elle Canada magazine.