Le Creuset Turns 100: A Century of Colour, Craft, and Culinary Romance

There are brands that define moments — and then there are those that define lifetimes. Le Creuset, the French-born doyenne of enamelled cast-iron cookware, has spent the last 100 years doing just that: etching itself into the fabric of our kitchens, our family rituals, and our most intimate celebrations around the table.

It all began in 1925, in the sleepy commune of Fresnoy-le-Grand in northern France, when two visionary craftsmen — a casting specialist and an enamelling expert — forged the first Flame-coloured cocotte in a coal-fired furnace. It was more than cookware; it was a quiet revolution. In a world of utilitarian grey and steel, here was a pot that blazed with the optimism of a golden-orange sunrise.

A century later, Le Creuset remains the undisputed heirloom of choice — a symbol of culinary soul and slow-living savoir-faire. Every piece is still made with the same care and reverence, each cast in a sand mould used only once, each layer of enamel lovingly hand-applied. This is not factory-line efficiency, but old-world artistry passed down through generations.

To mark its centenary, the brand has unveiled a trilogy of tributes — a celebration not only of its past, but also of its enduring resonance in kitchens from Kyoto to Cape Town.

The first is a heartwarming short film, Stories of Inspired Tradition, which captures a chorus of chefs, designers, and devotees across continents recalling the pivotal role a Le Creuset pot has played in their lives. There’s something universally touching about the crackle of onions hitting enamel, or the way a stew bubbles gently under a well-worn lid — these are not just meals, but memories held in cast iron.

Then comes the pièce de résistance: Flamme Dorée, a new limited-edition colourway inspired by the original Flame hue, now reimagined with a gilded, mineral-rich shimmer that catches the light like Champagne in a flute. It's both nostalgic and strikingly modern — the culinary equivalent of a vintage silk dress shot through with gold thread.

The third, and perhaps most collectable, centennial launch is a coffee table book to covet: Le Creuset: A Century of Colorful Cookware, created in collaboration with Assouline. This glossy tome chronicles the brand’s journey through rare archival imagery, iconic advertising, and a rainbow of hues that has grown to over 200 across nearly 1,000 shapes — from the classic Dutch oven to the whimsically sculpted heart-shaped ramekin. It’s as much a visual feast as it is a culinary love letter.

In an age of fast consumption and fleeting trends, Le Creuset’s staying power lies in its ethos: to craft with intention, to cook with joy, and to gather with love. Owning a Le Creuset pot isn’t just about performance (though the even heat distribution and durability are near-mythic). It’s about what it represents — comfort, ritual, belonging. The sound of a lid lifting, the aroma of garlic and thyme, the weight in your hands that feels like a promise: we’ll eat well, and we’ll eat together.

So here’s to 100 years of meals that mattered. And to the next hundred — golden, glowing, and gently simmering in enamelled splendour.

Shop Now