Is The MOST Copied Bag Actually A COPY? Leathercraft Masterclass VODCAST

1:30 Share your thoughts on the future of leathercraft. Do you think a trade that has been considered to be dying is seeing a rebirth or is it something that in a few years is going to slow down and become a niche again? Also, how do you think new generations (Gen. Z and others to come) will see leathercraft? With more social and environmental awareness (and not necessarily more knowledge/education on the subject), will people shy away from animal products? Will they look for better-made products and not care so much about brands/status?
13:15 What do you see as the future for high margin leather goods outside of handbags? Should we be making leather bags for virtual reality headsets? (Just kidding. Don't actually think we should do this, but it is an example).
15:51 How do I get that perfect round skive for a turned edge corner? I can do it, but consistency is a bummer. And I’m using the same technique on each corner. Perhaps it’s skill/practice/knife edge but it’s the one thing turning me off making such items.
23:06 Processes that allow you to do more work but still keep your attention to detail.
27:02 Skiving.
28:26 How to care for Chrome tan leather.
31:20 The best user friendly and free apps or design tools for designing the patterns
33:07 Deciding on leather type and colour for projects
37:32 Melted beeswax on the leather handle. That was a nice touch!
38:11 What steps should one make to prevent feeling like their bags are plagiarism of others? Some shapes and locking mechanisms are so iconic that it makes me afraid of using them (i.e. the Birkin lock). It always feels like plagiarism even though someone else might have used it before them.
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I'll see you there, Philip
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[@pequodexpress]

The financial crisis of 2007-2008, the few years preceding it and following it, and unsatisfying work environments influenced many people to try to monetize their hobbies and hobby interests.

[@LeathercraftMasterclass]

That's very interesting. I imagine covid had a similar effect too.

[@KM-yw4xv]

Great podcast! As for the Birkin, I must say that it was redesigned off of a bag currently still in production named HAC (it’s in Hermes’ men’s line now), ie Sac à main Haut à courroies, which was a common travel bag/ luggage shape back in the day. I don’t know who was the first ever to introduce the shape… Regarding the “plagiarizing”: students in art schools learn from the great masters by copying their work - that’s how one develops both the technique, the artistic taste and eye for perfection, i.e masters the art

[@LeathercraftMasterclass]

Thank you for those interesting insights KM 👍

[@DCportraits]

Excellent podcast Philip, tons of nuggets of knowledge, especially having a hair popping skiving knife. Just makes skiving so much easier. I strop in between long skives of leather just to keep it sharp, amazing how quickly it begins to lose it's sharpness going through leather. And what a trip about the laundry bag being a potential birkin inspiration. What a great episode!

[@LeathercraftMasterclass]

Thank you! I appreciate you letting me know. Yes, leather is quite abrasive and I've yet to find a steel that can stand up to much use before stropping is required again.

[@tiagopardete545]

Thank you for your thoughts. I've been collecting shapes (just shapes, bank won't let have it any other way...) of bags, both standard (tote bag, travel bag, hobo bag, etc...) and some iconic shapes that fall in those categories and try to see where they differ from the standard and try to apply some of their rules in my own style. Hopefully I'll be able to create something I feel is unique. Thank you once again.

[@LeathercraftMasterclass]

That's a great Idea Tiago! You'll learn a lot that way. Some great used pieces can be found on eBay for very little money.

[@MiloKolb]

im gen z and I love leathercraft, I don't see myself stopping any time soon. Once I get good enough at bag making, I plan to start learning shoemaking

[@LeathercraftMasterclass]

Great to hear Milo! Thanks for sharing 👍

[@mikedeloach6849]

46:20 ....That 'thing' is called Integrity, and is all too often in short supply. Thank you for holding on to yours.

[@LeathercraftMasterclass]

Thank you Mike! I appreciate that👍

[@4apples]

Really goodquestions and answers this time! Nice work!

[@LeathercraftMasterclass]

Thanks Daniel! Yes some really interesting and thoughtful questions 👍

[@bigdfc1864]

design apps. adobe illustrator is a good one. concepts is slightly more intuitive for design work. aside from 3-d design apps those two are my go to’s. procreate is terrible for design, but fantastic for “beautiful” color work and potential color combos on designs/layouts.

[@LeathercraftMasterclass]

Thank you for sharing that. I'm sure that will help somebody

[@troylee3700]

Thank you Philip, enjoyed it as well!

[@LeathercraftMasterclass]

You're welcome Troy. Glad you enjoyed it

[@rogercrier9115]

I would assume looking at that bag that you were also one of the first to put a deposit on the Tesla Cybertruck😂😂 The similarities are profound!

[@LeathercraftMasterclass]

Haha! 😂

[@nsreentarek3715]

It's a great video as usual thanks a lot🌹🌹👏👏

[@LeathercraftMasterclass]

You're welcome 👍

[@Alagachak]

Great episode! And I must admit I did not see the levels, still not fear induced separation levels, of sharpening I would have to learn starting all this out. And it is near every single time something is going 'mjeh' while using a blade - the issue making it mjeh.

[@LeathercraftMasterclass]

Thank you Ceril! Much appreciated

[@kevinjenkins3104]

Good episode 👍

[@LeathercraftMasterclass]

Glad to hear it Kevin, thank you

[@sloth_e]

Just the basics in leather are such an every day thing that no other material is up to task amd not only popular but the norm and expected. Belts being no1, knife sheaths and pouches, tool rigs, horse products, holsters etc. All are either mass produced or enthusiasts still custom order these. This is without the high end and luxury market. As soon as anyone hears I make leather products I will get a request for a belt guaranteed. If not a wallet or knife pouch. Im nit the only leather worker in my city of 500,000 in Australia but I cant keep up with orders and requests etc and I don't use etsy or have a Web site. Just an old fashioned business card. I don't get much call for med to large bags but belts and wallets and sheaths and quivers and phone cases and passport wallets, straps for cameras, suspenders, tool rigs etc. Even bondage gear haha. Im still only 2 years into a business but genuinely have a constant flow of work and about a month waiting time on most items. I'd love to spend more time making more interesting things but have no real time for it. I refer people on to other crafter as much as I take on work. It's certainly not dieing nor can I see it dropping off. It's not from novelty that people are keen. It's because it's the absolute norm to have these things in leather and want it custom made. It's not as costly as buying bespoke woodwork per item and I know wood workers that can't keep up with these things. It's in our DNA to love natural materials. Those that don't have no soul haha.

[@LeathercraftMasterclass]

That's great to hear! More work than time is a great problem to have

[@ozjones43]

I have seen that some leather craftsman have started using A.I. for some of there designs. Do you think that A.I. is the future of our craft?

[@LeathercraftMasterclass]

Oh really? Wow, I didn't even think of that. Damn, I wouldn't want to be a designer right now! It probably is the future, yes. I still think you'd have to have a good eye for design and proportion in order to give it the right prompts.