Le Laboureur
Founded in 1956 in Digoin, France, Le Laboureur manufactures traditional French workwear—largeots, coltins, gilets, and accessories in moleskine, velvet, linen, and wool—for skilled artisans, regional traditions like Camargue Gardians, and premium fashion brand collaborations.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1956
- HeadquartersDigoin, France
- Headcount—
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Le Laboureur does
Le Laboureur is a French traditional workwear manufacturer founded in 1956 and headquartered at 6 bis rue des chantiers in Digoin, Saône-et-Loire. The company produces heritage garments including largeots (demi-ballon carpenter's trousers), vestons de travail / coltins (work jackets), gilets (waistcoats), shorts, combinaisons (coveralls), and accessories, manufactured from specialty fabrics (moleskine, velvet, linen, cotton, wool) using heritage patron patterns preserved from the founding year, with construction techniques such as triple stitching, arm-offset machine assembly, and traditional chalk marking quality control. Production is concentrated in a single Digoin workshop employing approximately 30 staff, including 20 sewing machinists (couturières), producing roughly 25,600 pieces annually; a 2019 takeover by brothers Jean and Vianney Copleutre preserved this artisanal model.
The business operates three primary revenue streams: (i) direct and reseller-channel workwear sales to French artisans (carpenters, masons, roofers, joiners) and Compagnons du Tour de France, (ii) limited-edition brand collaborations with fashion houses such as Comme des Garçons, Byredo, Renault, Le Minor, L'Usine Bleue, and NN.07, and (iii) a dedicated Gardian clothing sub-brand (Vincent et Mireille, acquired in 2007 from Établissements Debize) for Camargue equestrian traditions distributed via a separate e-commerce site. Pricing is positioned at mid-to-high premium levels reflecting French craftsmanship, though specific prices are not publicly disclosed and are set by individual resellers; orders are pay-as-you-go with quote-based bulk pricing.
Go-to-market combines direct e-commerce (lelaboureur.com, vincent-et-mireille.com), a physical reseller network across France and internationally, and a brand-collaboration distribution model in which partner fashion houses sell co-branded pieces through their own channels. Experiential marketing through 45-minute paid factory tours at the Digoin workshop, content marketing via the company blog, and an active Instagram presence (@lelaboureur.fr) extend reach. In 2024 the company received the Entreprise du Patrimoine Vivant (EPV) state label, formally recognizing its rare artisanal know-how and reinforcing its positioning at the intersection of traditional French workwear and premium fashion.
Le Laboureur firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Le Laboureur
- Legal name
- Manufacture de Confection Le Laboureur
- Website
- https://lelaboureur.fr
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1956
- Operating status
- Operating
- Short description
- Founded in 1956 in Digoin, France, Le Laboureur manufactures traditional French workwear—largeots, coltins, gilets, and accessories in moleskine, velvet, linen, and wool—for skilled artisans, regional traditions like Camargue Gardians, and premium fashion brand collaborations.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Le Laboureur industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Traditional Workwear Manufacturing
- NAICS
- Apparel Manufacturing (315), Cut and Sew Apparel Manufacturing (except Contractors) (31525)
- SIC
- Men's & Boys' Furnishgs, Work Clothg, & Allied Garments (2320), Apparel & Other Finishd Prods Of Fabrics & Similar Matl (2300)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Outerwear & Cold-Weather Apparel Manufacturers (CRAAAAAI)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Luxury & Couture / Small-Batch Cut & Sew (IMAOAEAL)
Keywords
Where Le Laboureur is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Digoin
- HQ country
- France
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Le Laboureur business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Workwear Product Sales: One-time sale of traditional French workwear garments (vestons, largeots, gilets, pulls, accessories) through direct e-commerce and reseller network. Products are priced at premium for heritage quality and French manufacture.
- Collaboration/Licensing Products: Co-branded products created with fashion partners (Le Minor, Comme des Garçons, Byredo, Renault, etc.) sold through partner channels, with Le Laboureur providing manufacturing expertise and brand heritage.
- Manufacturing Services: Custom manufacturing for other brands seeking French production expertise, including products for Gardian traditions (Vincent et Mireille brand) and technical workwear collaborations.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Premium French-made workwear positioned at mid-to-high price points reflecting artisanal craftsmanship and heritage quality. |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels6 records
Le Laboureur product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Le Laboureur manufactures traditional French workwear garments (vestons/coltins, largeots, gilets, combinaisons, pantalons, shorts, pulls, tabliers, and accessories) using heritage patterns dating to 1956 and specialty fabrics including moleskine, velvet, linen, and wool. The company produces approximately 25,600 pieces annually in its Digoin workshop, serving artisans, traditional tradespeople, and Camargue Gardians, while also co-developing limited-edition workwear with fashion brands such as Comme des Garçons, Byredo, Renault, and Le Minor.
Product overview
Le Laboureur is a French clothing manufacturer based in Digoin, Burgundy, specializing in traditional work clothing since 1956. The company's product portfolio centers on artisanal French craftsmanship for workwear, featuring iconic products including the Largeot (traditional demi-ballon work pants) and Veston de Travail/Coltin (traditional work jacket) in various fabrics such as moleskine, velvet, cotton, linen, and wool. The company manufactures work clothing under several categories: general workwear (pantalons, shorts, coveralls), technical W-series garments with knee pad pockets, companion/craftsman attire, and regional French traditions including the Vincent et Mireille sub-brand for Camargue Gardians. Le Laboureur has also engaged in numerous brand collaborations with fashion houses including Comme des Garçons, Byredo, Renault, and L'Usine Bleue, producing limited-edition work jackets and accessories.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Vincent et Mireille: Traditional Gardian clothing brand for Camargue horsemen and horsewomen, including pantalons, chemises, gilets, and jupes-culottes.
Products and services
- Veston de Travail (Coltin) Traditional French work jacket also known as 'coltin' or bleu de travail, crafted using historical patterns with functional features for artisans, available in multiple colors and fabrics including moleskine, velvet, cotton, and wool.
- Largeot Traditional French demi-ballon work trousers originally designed for craftsmen, available in multiple forms including passants (with belt loops), tirants (with suspenders), German style, and multi-pocket versions.
- Série W Technical Workwear Technical work clothing series featuring work pants with knee pad pockets designed for professional use, combining traditional craftsmanship with modern workwear functionality and CE-marked conformity.
- Combinaisons & Cottes Work coveralls and jumpsuits designed for full-body protection and functionality across various work environments.
- Pantalons de Travail
- Shorts de Travail
- Pulls & Polaires
- Tabliers
- Accessoires Work accessories including caps, socks, knee pads, suspenders, and belts designed to complement the work clothing range.
- Vêtements de Compagnon Traditional work clothing for French guild companions (Compagnons du Tour de France), featuring iconic pieces like the largeot and coltin in corporation-specific colors.
- Tenues des Traditions Régionales Françaises Regional French traditional clothing including Gardian attire from Camargue, maintaining historical craftsmanship and local heritage.
- Vincent et Mireille Traditional Gardian clothing sub-brand for Camargue horsemen and horsewomen, including gilets, vestes, pantalons, and jupes-culottes, serving the 500-year Camargue equestrian tradition.
- Le Laboureur x Comme des Garçons Workwear Collaboration Limited-edition work jacket co-developed with Japanese luxury fashion house Comme des Garçons, released February 2023.
- Le Laboureur x Byredo Workwear Collaboration Limited-edition collaboration with luxury fragrance and lifestyle brand Byredo, released October 2022.
- Le Laboureur x Renault Wool Work Jacket Collaboration Limited-edition wool work jacket co-developed with Renault paying homage to Renault factory workers from the Île Seguin plant, released October 2024.
- Le Laboureur x Le Minor Moleskine Work Jacket Collaboration Limited-edition moleskine work jacket co-developed with Brittany-based fashion brand Le Minor, released November 2025.
- Le Laboureur x L'Usine Bleue Indigo Work Jacket Collaboration Limited-edition indigo work jacket and cap in cotton-linen blend produced with Swedish brand L'Usine Bleue, released July 2021.
- Le Laboureur x Merci x NN.07 Three-Way Collaboration Three-way collaboration between French concept store Merci, Danish menswear brand NN.07, and Le Laboureur, released September 2024.
Quantifiable outcome
- 80-90% fabric utilization efficiency through optimized cutting techniques
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Le Laboureur
Customer profileNamed customers9 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Le Laboureur technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
Le Laboureur partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and flagship.
- Le MinorcoreBrittany-based premium fashion brand collaboration on moleskine heavy work jackets, combining regional French fashion sensibility with Le Laboureur's traditional fabric expertise.
- La Blouse de LyonminorCollaboration with Lyon-based traditional workwear brand on French manufacturing partnerships.
- RivalinminorCollaboration on wool charentaises (traditional French slippers) produced in France, extending Le Laboureur's collaboration beyond clothing into accessories.
- RenaultflagshipFrench automotive manufacturer collaboration on wool work jackets paying homage to Renault factory workers from the Île Seguin plant, outside Paris.
- SuuuplyminorCollaboration with emerging workwear/lifestyle brand on limited-edition products.
- Merci x NN.07coreThree-way collaboration between French concept store Merci, Danish menswear brand NN.07, and Le Laboureur on traditional workwear pieces for the European fashion market.
- Comme des GarçonsflagshipJapanese luxury fashion house collaboration on workwear-inspired veston products, combining Le Laboureur's French manufacturing with Comme des Garçons' avant-garde design aesthetic.
- ByredoflagshipLuxury fragrance and lifestyle brand collaboration creating fashion products that blend workwear functionality with high-end fashion sensibility.
- L'Usine BleuecoreSwedish premium workwear brand founded by Frenchman Vincent Tallec. First collaboration in March 2021 produced limited-edition indigo work jacket and cap in ecological cotton-linen blend. Model based on classic French workwear patterns, numbered 1-99. Materials sourced from French organic flax and recycled cotton, buttons from French company Kocher.
- KochercoreFrench century-old button manufacturer that produces Le Laboureur's engraved buttons. Over 250,000 buttons installed annually. Brown natural buttons made from corozo seed. Used in L'Usine Bleue collaboration and throughout product range.
- Établissements DEBIZEcoreOriginal creator of Vincent et Mireille brand in 1958 for Camargue Gardian clothing. When ÉTABLISSEMENTS DEBIZE ceased operations in 2007, the Vincent et Mireille brand and historical models were progressively transferred to Le Laboureur for continued production.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Le Laboureur competitors and assessment
Company assessmentOthers
- L'Usine Bleue: Swedish premium workwear brand founded by Frenchman Vincent Tallec. Operates as a partner in Le Laboureur's collaboration network rather than a direct competitor, but is thematically related as a workwear-as-luxury brand leveraging heritage French workwear aesthetics.
Direct peers
- La Blouse de Lyon: Lyon-based French heritage workwear manufacturer producing traditional work blouses and shirts. Directly comparable as a small-batch French artisan apparel maker with similar heritage positioning; Le Laboureur has even collaborated with the brand (2025).
- Vetra: French heritage workwear brand specializing in traditional workwear and moleskine garments. Closely comparable product range, similar French artisan positioning, and overlapping customer base in traditional trades and fashion-conscious consumers.
- Danton: French heritage workwear brand with roots in French textile tradition. Comparable as a workwear specialist operating in the same French workwear heritage space, targeting both tradespeople and fashion consumers.
Emerging players
- A.P.C. French contemporary fashion brand known for workwear-inspired denim and casualwear. Comparable target audience of fashion-conscious urban consumers drawn to workwear aesthetics, but operates as a design/fashion brand rather than a manufacturer.
- Burel: Portuguese heritage wool and textile maker producing traditional burel fabric garments. Comparable small-batch artisanal approach and heritage positioning; Le Laboureur has even collaborated with Burel (2022).
- Le Minor: Brittany-based French heritage knitwear brand. Comparable French artisanal heritage positioning in regional traditions; Le Laboureur has collaborated with Le Minor (2025) on moleskine work jackets.
Broad incumbents
- Saint James: Iconic French heritage knitwear and workwear brand with centuries-old history. Comparable French artisanal manufacturing heritage, overlapping workwear-as-fashion positioning, but operates at much larger scale with broader international retail footprint.
- Carhartt WIP: European workwear and lifestyle brand, the European sister of Carhartt. Comparable target audience of workwear-as-fashion consumers, but operates globally at significantly larger scale with industrial production capacity.
- Armor-Lux: Established French heritage apparel manufacturer (founded 1938) producing maritime-inspired workwear, knitwear, and uniforms at significantly larger scale. Overlapping heritage workwear positioning and French manufacturing credentials, but with broader product portfolio and industrial-scale operations.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Le Laboureur social profiles
Digital presenceLe Laboureur compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
Le Laboureur financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Le Laboureur leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Le Laboureur subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
Le Laboureur funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Le Laboureur M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Le Laboureur
What does Le Laboureur do?
Le Laboureur manufactures traditional French workwear garments (vestons/coltins, largeots, gilets, combinaisons, pantalons, shorts, pulls, tabliers, and accessories) using heritage patterns dating to 1956 and specialty fabrics including moleskine, velvet, linen, and wool. The company produces approximately 25,600 pieces annually in its Digoin workshop, serving artisans, traditional tradespeople, and Camargue Gardians, while also co-developing limited-edition workwear with fashion brands such as Comme des Garçons, Byredo, Renault, and Le Minor.
Is Le Laboureur a public or private company?
Le Laboureur is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was Le Laboureur founded?
Le Laboureur was founded in 1956.
Where is Le Laboureur based?
Le Laboureur is headquartered in Digoin, France, in the Europe region.
How does Le Laboureur make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Workwear Product Sales are the primary driver. The others are collaboration/Licensing Products and manufacturing Services.
Who are Le Laboureur's main competitors?
L'Usine Bleue is listed as an others. Direct peers are La Blouse de Lyon, Vetra and Danton. Emerging players are A.P.C., Burel and Le Minor. Broad incumbents are Saint James, Carhartt WIP and Armor-Lux.
Does Le Laboureur have an API?
No public API is recorded for Le Laboureur.
What industry is Le Laboureur in?
Le Laboureur's product category is Traditional Workwear Manufacturing. Its primary akta.pro industry code is CRAAAAAI, Outerwear & Cold-Weather Apparel Manufacturers, with a secondary code of IMAOAEAL, Luxury & Couture / Small-Batch Cut & Sew. Its NAICS code is 315 and its SIC code is 2320.