Renaud Van Kote (EDHEC Master 2012) is using his leather goods brand RVK to reconnect cities to the countryside.

Tell us about yourself.

My name is Renaud Van Kote, I was educated at EDHEC in Lille and did my apprenticeships in Paris. I started out working in corporate finance before switching to design and the luxury sector, pursuing a specialized master’s degree at the Institut Français de la Mode. 

The notion of contrast is essential for me, both in my personal life – between the city and wildlife – and in what I make: the materials and colours I use.

Tell us about your company.

As is often the case in entrepreneurship, it was born out of frustration. I couldn’t find a men’s briefcase that was both original and very functional. That was what triggered it. Working for major firms, I created various models based on requests from friends, cousins and colleagues until finally launching RVK France. That gradual rise allowed me to develop my collection, building on several years’ experience and customer feedback.

What is your company’s “mission”?

I’m passionate about materials and manufacturing. I was struck by how much all of that upstream activity takes place in rural areas, whereas ultimately most customers are city-dwellers. And so RVK France’s mission is to reconnect cities to the countryside with functional and unusual objects.

We are currently developing a partnership with BlueBees – crowdfunding platforms for the environmental transition in rural areas – to reinject some of our revenue to finance projects chosen by our customers. To go full circle, you might say.

The leather goods sector is highly competitive in France. How do (will) you manage to forge a place for yourself?

Three things essentially make RVK France different: 

•    not only are the products made in France, but 90% of their value added is created in France 

•    a unique and contrasted design for functional and unusual objects. Building on several years’ experience, for us design serves functionality and not the other way round 

•    the most direct distribution possible to ensure fluidity in the transfer of value and constantly serve and listen to my customers 

How did you choose your suppliers? Based on what criteria?

That was probably one of the longest phases: more than a year of searching and meetings to select the finest leathers and fabrics, the highest quality wool and metal parts and of course a workshop to bring together and give life to my sketches.

Three criteria underpinned my search: quality (aesthetics and technical aspects), respect for the human dimension and the environment, and location.

Most of my suppliers have obtained "Entreprise du Patrimoine Vivant" certification, a State label provided in recognition of excellence and savoir-faire.

Why is it important for the materials and production to be French?

It’s hard to sum up in just a few words! First of all it’s a deep-rooted belief and one that reflects the mission of RVK France. It’s also about quality: France is still THE country for leather goods and the one where the value chain is most optimally controlled. It is also about efficiency (linguistic and geographic proximity) and environmentally friendly logistics: reducing journey distances and packaging to the strict minimum.

Sourcing, manufacturing and logistics form an ecosystem that is really important to me and, I think, for my customers. I’ve put a manifesto explaining this on the RVK France website. It’s part of the brand name: RVK France.

Tell us about the conception and creation process behind your products.

Each item is inspired by an individual and carries the name of that person. When creating an item for a known individual, I make sure it matches a use that is at once precise and universal. Several prototypes are made for each item in the workshop, followed by several months or even years of testing to improve and finally validate the design.

Beyond the use of the item, its style stands out with graphic lines and a contrast between the materials and colours used. For each one, I ask: what makes this item stand out? Does it offer the customer something new?

What are your ambitions for the years ahead?

To develop RVK France’s sales, on a national level at first. I would like to successfully share my passion for quality with as many people as possible and bring together my customers, suppliers and partners in support of the values that my small business conveys.

What has been your finest success, your greatest source of pride as an entrepreneur?

It’s a bit early to say! But having the courage to make the leap and managing to leave the comfort of a permanent job in a prestigious company to develop my project day after day.

What advice would you like to give to other alumni interested in becoming entrepreneurs in the French luxury sector?

Take the time to reflect so you can identify your project and what makes it stand out, but also your “mission”. Commit fully and surround yourself with the right people so you can make the most of the magnificent ecosystem of savoir-faire that makes France so special. 

What are your expectations from the community of EDHEC alumni?

Word-of-mouth, introductions, suggestions, discussions, it’s all welcome!

And of course I would be delighted for my fellow alumni to use RVK France products whether for themselves or their loved ones! They’ll be well looked after.

What do the words CARE, SHARE, DARE, the 3 pillars of EDHEC Alumni, mean for you?

Care: a fundamental human value, it’s what encourages me to be open to others, to take pleasure from meeting my customers and earning their loyalty.

Share: quality encounters, taking the time to share, which is also what drives my use of social media and the newsletter: just the right amount.

Dare: difficult but essential, for it is only through daring that one moves from an idea to action. And being surrounded by the right people helps to make that leap. 

Perhaps a quick word about the current crisis, which makes the entrepreneurial adventure even more daring, but also even more essential. This crisis has brought us back to our fundamentals and gives us first-hand experience of how important it is to stick together. And so in the current climate, many thanks for giving me the opportunity to address my fellow EDHEC alumni!