Founder of the company Hermann Shoes, Hermann Estimphil has been taking part in Artisanat en Fête since 2012 and, over time, he has not given up on this annual rendezvous. Specializing in the making of shoes, sandals, handbags, and belts, Mr. Estimphil practices his craft with the same patience and rigor he has cultivated for more than four decades. His path was shaped early on, at a time when shoemaking still held a central place in the country’s economic and social life.

His first encounter with the trade dates back to 1979. At the time, he was just a schoolboy. After classes, young Hermann would go to his older brother’s workshop, which specialized in sandal-making. At first merely an observer, he gradually became captivated by the artisan’s gestures. Curiosity turned into passion, and passion became apprenticeship. Under his brother’s guidance, young Hermann learned to make sandals, before gradually expanding his skills to the making of shoes.