Lets talk about WOW factor in leatherwork.

[immiketoo]

I see a lot of people concerned that their leatherwork isn't as good as so and so's leather, or that they wish their tooling was better or their stitching, etc...In my travels both electronic and in person, I have seen a LOT of leather by different people.  Some is fantastic, some is crap (more on that later) but a wide swath in the middle has the greatest variation and potential.  

Often, something catches my eye and makes me say WOW!  Upon closer inspection, the tooling has flaws, or the stitching isn't perfect.  Edges?  Rough...but.  The totality of the package makes me want to keep looking.  The design, or the use of color or some intangible factors that combine to make a product that I would be proud to carry or use.  

Don't sell yourself short by comparing yourself to anyone else.  I guarantee you these wow factors are selling like hotcakes because most people that aren't leatherworkers can't see the flaws anyway.  I live in a high tourism country and I see all kinds of crap.  Cheaply made, but made to look good.  People buy it.  Makes me cry, but such is life.

I'm not suggesting that we shouldn't try to improve on the areas that need it, but be proud of where you're at.  We ALL started somewhere and it usually wasn't good.

[Danne]

I agree with what you are saying. And I would say you should look at others work and try to learn from other (No. not copying, but things like techique) and compare with your old work and see your progress. And it's easy to think "My work is really bad compared to this guy or girl, and I have done this a lot longer" instead be happy with your progress.  My work is really good IF I compare to the things I did a year ago. If I compare with others, there are ALWAYS someone who is much better.

I inspected some handmade IWC-watch straps. They looked awesome, but either the stitching or the edge paint was perfect. 

Edited April 22, 2018 by Danne

[immiketoo]

Yes.  What I find interesting is that as time passes, there are folks I look at and STILL can't figure out how they do it.  Always someone better at some aspect of the craft.

 

[Gabriel Rasa]

That's a distinction I've noticed before, wow-factor vs. detailing -- because I do fantasy costuming, which is all about the wow, about being unique and eye-catching and looking good when people snap pictures of the full costume. Then I get on here, and the high-end guys are talking about all of the thought and detail that goes into making their edges perfectly glassy, or their stitches all perfectly aligned, and I'm like, "lol, wow I'm a hack." Because I'm selling to people who aren't connoisseurs, which means I can get away with less attention to detail than someone making sheaths or belts -- indeed you have to, or you'll price yourself out of the market.

Anyway, I'm belatedly getting good at the detailing aspects of the craft, but it's more for me than for my customers -- they can't tell the difference, so it's just to give me more pride and confidence in what I do, and help me not embarrass myself in front of other leatherworkers. :D

[bermudahwin]

As in all things, you produce and sell (or give) to your market.

I was lucky enough to do a 3 year college course at Cordawainers in London, and was taught by some of the very best crafts, and trades people in the industry (including the Queen's side-saddle maker and the man that made the cricket balls for test matches).

I choose to only make goods to give as gifts at the moment, as I am in full time employment in another industry, so I choose to use my skills to the fullest, and am my harshest critic.

I have also been a designer / pattern maker for leathergoods and luggage companies, and understand making to a cost and to a market.

If you are happy, the customer is happy and they come back for more, you are making it good enough for your market.

If you want to join the Guild of Master Craftsmen, or the Worshipful Company of Saddlers etc, maybe the technique, quality of materials and finish will matter more.

Personally I want to enjoy what I do, not get bored of the making the same thing over and over and learn from the great ideas that others are having -in all material design, to see if it can be done in leather. Personally I was blown away by the work on a mallet and a maul by one member - because they look great and I would never have thought of it. There are hundreds of other craftsmen examples as well, but they stick in my mind.

Have fun (and make money if you can)

Harry

[sheathmaker]

I've been at this since 1951. I have come to believe the "Wow" factor is pretty well hidden in the last 3% of any project.  By that I mean too many folks quit at 97% saying things like "that's good enough"......well, for me it's not good enough until it's perfect....(by the way I've never hit that magical perfect mark yet!). I won't buy "that's good enough", but I will buy and help where I can if I hear "that's as good as I am capable of right now".  I think the Wow factor comes with the consumer's very first impression of your work, and you rarely get a chance for a second first impression.  The wow factor is when they consumer thinks, "Boy that's really expensive, but look at the fine quality and finish; it's certainly worth it compared to this other one"

Above all, be patient .  Great skill does does appear over night, it's earned one day at a time with improvment piled on top of improvement.  You have to be honest and be your own harshest critic, because there will always be those who say "GREAT JOB, Fantastic  when you know in your heart it's not so great.

...and I still say if I ever make that absolutely perfect piece, I stop while I'm ahead and so far I haven't stopped in over 60 years.

Paul 

 

Edited April 22, 2018 by sheathmaker

[KingsCountyLeather]

Personally... I look for the most amazing workmanship I can find and try to emulate that when I’m making my leather projects. I know I’m not going to get even close in quality but I feel I’m getting better each time. 

Also... I’m old enough now to know that I’m not a creative person. I’ve tried and tried to create my own style and it never works out. So... I have to copy!  I know it’s frowned upon but I can’t help it. I look for other people’s work and I try to copy it, usually it turns out a bit different, so the original designer shouldn’t be too angry with me? 

[immiketoo]

1 hour ago, sheathmaker said:

  The wow factor is when they consumer thinks, "Boy that's really expensive, but look at the fine quality and finish; it's certainly worth it compared to this other one"

And then break out their cash.

1 hour ago, sheathmaker said:

You have to be honest and be your own harshest critic, because there will always be those who say "GREAT JOB, Fantastic  when you know in your heart it's not so great.

I see this all the time from leather worker to leather worker.  Perhaps another topic, but GREAT JOB with obvious issues is just blowing smoke.  Its good to be encouraging and helpful, but are falsehoods helpful or harmful?

 

 

1 hour ago, KingsCountyLeather said:

Personally... I look for the most amazing workmanship I can find and try to emulate that when I’m making my leather projects. I know I’m not going to get even close in quality but I feel I’m getting better each time. 

Also... I’m old enough now to know that I’m not a creative person. I’ve tried and tried to create my own style and it never works out. So... I have to copy!  I know it’s frowned upon but I can’t help it. I look for other people’s work and I try to copy it, usually it turns out a bit different, so the original designer shouldn’t be too angry with me? 

There is emulating and there is direct ripoff.  EVERYONE starts emulating someone at the start.  Picking those you admire is natural.  I did it, I still do it.  Finding your own style is a nebulous topic.  Apparently I have my own style, but I didn't consciously develop it, I arrived at it one piece at a time, until people started recognizing my work as mine just from the look of it.  Don't worry, you'll have one of your own at some point.

[battlemunky]

Every once in a while, you read a post in a forum and it makes sense somewhere deep inside your brain. Thanks for this thread.

[Tugadude]

2 hours ago, KingsCountyLeather said:

Personally... I look for the most amazing workmanship I can find and try to emulate that when I’m making my leather projects. I know I’m not going to get even close in quality but I feel I’m getting better each time. 

Also... I’m old enough now to know that I’m not a creative person. I’ve tried and tried to create my own style and it never works out. So... I have to copy!  I know it’s frowned upon but I can’t help it. I look for other people’s work and I try to copy it, usually it turns out a bit different, so the original designer shouldn’t be too angry with me? 

This is a great topic and and this post in particular reminds me of something I was thinking the other day when looking at a topic concerning a ladies long wallet.

I want to follow up on immiketoo's response to KingsCountyLeather's post.  It nailed the issue pretty well.

So I read the post on the ladies long wallet and noticed that the maker had used a pocket design that I hadn't seen before.  It was a sort of wave shape, but had some unique curves.  I pointed out that it was his "signature".  That shape alone, just a pocket shape, to me contributed to the "wow" factor of the piece.  I think I might have commented that I hope others don't copy the design.

So my take for what it is worth is that leatherwork is so old by now that it is getting harder and harder to come up with something original.  I'm sure that anything I've created that I believe to be unique to me has been done before.  Probably over and over.  The trick, I believe is to create that "style" (and I agree with immiketoo that it can be nebulous), and continue to refine your own personal look.  Don't overtly copy.  Take a design and change it to suit your style.  Add a touch or two.  

I saw a nice luggage tag on here the other day and decided to make one myself.  I took the basic idea and created one, but it is far from a copy.  I used the skills I'm comfortable with and altered it enough to make it an expression of my style.  

So to KingsCountyLeather, who has always been a gentleman on the forum I say don't be too hard on yourself.  The mere fact that you are thinking about it speaks volumes about your character!