An interview with Jérémy Groshens on the birth of a new collaboration.

For this round of Opinel’s limited edition artist series, we teamed up with Jérémy Groshens - Les Aiguilles de Dje, a 29-year-old French tattoo artist. Traveling between the mountains of his native Alsace and the Basque coast, Jérémy takes his art on the road, working from a 1972 Digue camper-turned-mobile workshop and tattoo parlor called the Outdoor Tattoo Truck.

A great lover of nature, Jérémy’s illustrations are inspired by the little things of outdoor life, its landscapes, fauna and flora. A legacy he shares through meticulous tattoos made to other enthusiasts who cross his path. For this new limited edition collection, Opinel wanted to work with Jérémy on the theme of the Escapade, as a desire to go on an adventure, to rave about the beauty of nature…

Can you tell us a bit about yourself?

My name is Jérémy Groshens, Dje to my friends. I'm a product designer by training, originally in the outdoor industry and I'm now working in tattooing and illustration. I'm a big nature lover and I’m passionate about adventure and excitement. My work as an illustrator aboard my little traveling salon, the Outdoor Tattoo Truck, is inspired by all of this.

What is your first memory of Opinel?

I grew up being in the forests and mountains a lot, with my family. Whether it was with my grandparents or my parents, someone always had an Opinel in their pocket to carve a piece of wood, pick mushrooms or slice bread. My parents gave me my first Opinel when we were in a resort, it was one of those colored models with the name of the resort on it, mine was green.

For many people, Opinel is synonymous with being passed down and with expertise. What are the values that Opinel conveys for you?

Heritage and authenticity. This object which is so simple, yet so useful, and is passed from hand to hand over time. It's not only the knife that is passed on, it's the actions, the memories and the technique that go along with it. This resourceful and manual aspect also represents a return to the roots, the link to simple things and to nature.

You have just contributed to the creation of a limited edition collection for the brand, what does this mean to you? How did the collaboration go?

It's huge, I'm the same kid I was at the resort 15 years ago, holding my first Opinel in my hand. There is all this history behind it, these stories, these memories. It's an encounter that has meaning for me and I'm very proud to have my own knife series. It's also a real opportunity in my new career as an illustrator to be able to dress up such an iconic object.

The collaboration went wonderfully, everything came together very naturally with people who know and love the brand. It was an enriching exchange and a real pleasure to learn even more about Opinel. Merci!

If you had to choose just one, what would be your Opinel knife of choice?

Beyond the knife, I would say that as a symbol, the classic No. 08 best represents these values and this history.

Can you describe Opinel in three words?

Adventure, authenticity, salami.

Featured Products

AZIMUT

Azimut revisits the graphic potential of mountain mapping.

The curves of level that adorn its handle and its black blade describe the relief of the Aiguilles d'Arves located in Savoie, in the massif of the Maurienne, cradle of the Opinel.

The model of the knife is that of the essential pocket knife N°08, with a blade and a stainless steel ferrule equipped with a black coating to give it a modern image.

We also find engraved on the blade some elements of the cartography, which allow to create a reminder of the elements of the handle. The latter is made of charming wood, a very light wood that has allowed to wrap it with the printing of the cartography on the entire surface of the handle.

BIVOUAC

Bivouac mixes tattoo and outdoor codes. Its traditional patchwork composition blends the different equipment elements and the emblematic plants of the mountains in a graphic style combining fine lines and pointillism.

Each element can be related to an outdoor activity, such as hiking with the shoe, fishing with the hook, matches when you decide to make a campfire...

It leaves room for the imagination of everyone and allows to associate unforgettable memories with family or friends during excursions!

ÉLÉVATION        

The model Élévation is inspired by Japanese prints that pay homage to sacred landscapes and places.

The vision of these summits in a frozen moment of fullness is graphically translated in a minimalist way, mixing fluid lines, flattened colors and subtle gradations.

If we look more closely, the play of colors allow to highlight the relief but also the trees of the forest at the foot of the mountain, which reinforces its immensity.

This painting sublimates the charm wood handle thanks to an impression on the whole surface of the handle.