"Faithful rock": True to the Spanish meaning of his South American surname, Carlos Peñafiel exudes the presence of an unwavering sage. "He's a character," said Christophe Lemaire. "An old tree," added Sarah-Linh Tran. A unique collaborator, Peñafiel is now receiving unexpected recognition from the designer duo behind Lemaire, the independent fashion house known for its functional minimalism.

At 75, Peñafiel, a little-known leather artisan, is the subject of an exhibition from March 3 to 28 at the brand's boutique on Rue Elzévir in Paris. The exhibition, which will later travel to Tokyo and Seoul, combines photos, leather goods, furniture, molds and sculptures. It is complemented by an illuminating and comprehensive monograph, edited by Tran, marking the launch of her own publishing house.

To make this possible, the septuagenarian entrusted Tran with his archives. "Numerous slides, two old plastic bags filled with models, a portfolio frozen in the 1980s," she said, having scanned, sorted, dated and analyzed everything over the past four years. "It's as if she's set my whole life straight," Peñafiel said. They met in 2013, through casting director Barbara Blanchard.

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