Working With Leather
I love getting to know new media and materials- and creating beautiful things with them. Here's an example of one of my favorite personal projects where I explored the design, testing, and reiteration of a handbag.
The first of two generations.
Purse 1.0
It was extremely satisfying researching the tools and techniques of leather craft. I chatted with old-timers who generously let me borrow their books and tools. I also spent countless hours watching artisans' youtube videos to soak up the tiny movements and techniques that give a piece that special finished touch, that makes people go "ooh and aah!"
Showing it's age
This purse was used every day for 5 years before the signs of wear crossed the line between 'character' and 'design flaw'. The most glaring was the abrasion of the closure. While the oval fixture is elegant, it pinched and scraped material off the strap.
5 years of wear and tear from the old buckle.
New square buckle with roller bar to eliminate friction.
Feature 3
The other less than satisfactory feature was the phone sleeve. The original purse included a wet-formed sleeve made to perfectly fit an iPhone 5. It functioned wonderfully, but due to the ever changing phone designs was quickly out of style.
Original internal sleeve designed for iPhone 5.
New general use, internal pocket large enough for varying sizes of phones.
Purse 2.0
The new and improved Purse 2.0 lacks the weaknesses of the original and should prove to be even more reliable. Only time will tell where it's weak points are, but until then it will develop the same beautiful burnt honey patina of it's predecessor. I get a lot of joy releasing these into the wild and hearing their owners brag about the compliments they receive. I like seeing them worn with pride.
