By Danna Burns-Shaw Jeramiah Kapp has led an adventurous life to which most “homebodies” could not relate. Born in the Ozark Mountains of Missouri on a cattle ranch in 1974, he moved to St. Louis in 1982 and would spend the next 18 years living a somewhat atypical upbringing. Attending Webster University in Webster Groves (a suburb of St. Louis), known as the “study abroad” school, Jeramiah began his studies
Innovator in Gunleather By Nick Pernokas It was after the War. People in late 1940s New York City finally had some spending money for “fun.” One of the places they went for fun was Madison Square Garden. Looking back at the Garden now, partially hidden behind Manhattan store fronts causing it to blend in with the surrounding city, it may seem to pale in comparison to modern sports arenas. To
David Walt, the FarmStrong Way By Gene Fowler When I recently interviewed the venerable leatherwork artist Jim Linnell at his Elktracks Studio in Venus, Texas, he suggested that a better question than the ones I’d asked might be, “What will the future styles of leathercrafts look like? Who will continue the artform’s evolution into the next generation?” One answer, Jim, is David Walt, 16, of Franklin, Tennessee, proprietor of his
Dents has maintained its royal cachet and 'absolutely top-end' credo, for 240 years By Lynn Ascrizzi When it comes to the making of fine leather gloves, you’d be hard-pressed to find a glover with the preeminence and royal panache that is Dents. This small, luxury goods business, founded in 1777 by John Dent in Worcester, England, is quite possibly Britain’s oldest fashion manufacturer, a company meticulously crafting gloves of distinction
By Gene Fowler “Necessity,” decreed the Greek philosopher Plato, “is the mother of invention.” That Plato was a pretty smart guy. He made that observation some 2,400 years ago, and it still holds water today. Geoffrey Franklin, a native of the Portland, Oregon area, now based on the state’s coast, underscored that wisdom back in 2008 when he started riding his bicycle to his job as an architect. Finding himself
The Story of Saddleback Leather By Nick Pernokas Dave had designed the coffin himself. Built from leather, it was a gorgeous piece with options to make the ride to the afterlife convenient. There were pockets for storage and a bracket to accommodate a favorite scripture. The coffin could be secured with reinforced leather straps and the leather handles rested against the side when not in use. Finally the time had
By Danna Burns-Shaw [gallery ids="1008,1006,1005" type="rectangular"] It is interesting to learn what inspires and influences young entrepreneurs. How they let go of their security blanket (9 to 5 job) and take the plunge into the unknown to start their own company / brand .…without funding, just using their hands and vision to create unique products. Believing in something so strongly that they are willing to banish their doubts, throw caution
By Liisa Andreassen What started out as an experiment, evolved into a hobby and ultimately a thriving leather goods business and successful brand. “Initially, there was nothing intentional about it,” Odin Clack, founder of Odin Leather Goods, explains. “I wanted to see if I could make something out of leather. It took some time before I realized I had something with real potential.” Clack says that he’s always searched out
Earthly Connection By Danna Burns-Shaw Most artisans strive to unfold and create a signature style that gives their work a special identification. Perhaps a bold stroke, soft lines, a special finishing touch… some sort of embellishment that will immediately identify the creative maker. Bobby Woodward has achieved a signature style through hundreds of feet of kangaroo lace and fine gemstones – gemstones that he and his beautiful wife, Kathryn, source
Creating a Brand By Danna Burns-Shaw When you visit with Peter Hoffman you instantly know he is very passionate about his business. He dedicates 100% of himself to its success. He is single with no children, so 100 hours a week he takes care of his baby - his brand. Peter comes from a long line of creative artists. At five years old, Peter was already known for his artistic
