Every craftsman has a story, and my leather craftsman journey didn’t begin in a high-end atelier or a specialized academy. It started over three decades ago on a sunny patio in Galicia, Spain—driven purely by curiosity, the smell of natural leather, and the magic of transforming raw ideas into tangible objects.
Today, after more than 30 years as a leather worker, educator, and master craftsman, I want to welcome you to the Leather Artisan Lab blog by sharing how this story unfolded—and why every tool in our shop carries a piece of this experience.
The Spark of My Leather Craftsman Journey: A Bench at A Casa Vella (1993–1994)
I was only 14 years old when I began frequenting A Casa Vella, a café with a large patio in Valga—a town right next to Padrón, in Galicia, Spain.
Every afternoon, a couple of local leather artisans gathered there to work. Intrigued by their craft, we soon struck up a friendship. One day, I took a chance and asked them if they could teach me how to make one of those braided leather bracelets they were crafting.
Keychains followed shortly after, but it wasn’t long before I started envisioning wallet patterns in my head. What fascinated me most, and still satisfies me to this day, was seeing an idea born in my imagination come to life as a functional, beautiful object made from natural leather.
I still fondly remember trips to nearby Noia to buy horse and pony hides from Ignacio’s tannery, a local legend who processed hides from the wild horses roaming the Galician hills. Though Ignacio sadly passed away years later and the tannery closed, those early experiences tied my heart to leatherwork forever. From that moment in 1993–1994, leather accompanied me wherever I lived, across different cities in Spain and other countries.
The Turning Point in My Leather Craftsman Journey: Choosing the Craft
Back then, leatherworking was just a passionate hobby. Like many young people, I eventually left my studies to work temporary jobs, waitering, construction, and gardening. In January 2001, I moved to the Isle of Man (UK) to work for a maintenance company.
After almost three years there, I realized that working for others was not giving me the fulfillment I sought. That hobby I had carried for nearly ten years was calling me to make it my life’s profession.
However, I knew that passion alone wasn’t enough; I needed formal mastery. In 2003, I moved to Córdoba, Spain, to study Leather Design and Craftsmanship at the renowned Escuela de Artes Mateo Inurria. That decision opened up a universe of possibilities. I immersed myself in traditional techniques, connected with suppliers, met master artisans, and officially launched my career as a 100% full-time leather craftsman.
Step by Step: Learning, Teaching, and Specializing
My path was built step by step, adapting to every stage of this leather craftsman journey:
- In the Field: I started selling my handcrafted pieces everywhere, from music concerts and beaches to local craft fairs and medieval markets, eventually exhibiting at major professional artisan fairs across Spain and internationally.
- Higher Specialization: Driven by a desire for technical excellence, I pursued a Master’s Degree in Leather Design, awarded by the Loewe Foundation in collaboration with the Madrid Polytechnic University and the Leather Technology Center in Ubrique (Cádiz, Spain).
- Sharing Knowledge: Over the years, I combined my bench work with teaching. I have led workshops, masterclasses, and live demonstrations at leather events across Europe—including Spain, Germany, and the Netherlands—as well as international gatherings in the United States.
Why Leather Artisan Lab Was Born
In 2020, during the pandemic, I embarked on a new adventure in my leather craftsman journey: launching Leather Artisan Lab.
As a craftsman, I firmly believe that exceptional quality in your tools is the gateway to excellence in your craft. Throughout my career, sourcing top-tier tools meant navigating dozens of different websites, dealing with multiple shipping fees, international customs paperwork, and uncertain quality.
I created Leather Artisan Lab to fix that:
- Curated Excellence: To bring together the finest tools and supplies from master makers around the globe (Japan, France, USA, South Korea, Spain, and beyond) into a single shop.
- Personal Testing: Every tool offered in this shop isn’t just listed; it has been tested and approved by me in my own workshop daily.
- Craftsman-to-Craftsman Support: When you reach out with a question, you get advice based on real workshop experience, not automated customer service.
Final Thoughts
Looking back at that 14-year-old kid learning to braid a leather bracelet in a Galician café, I could never have imagined where this leather craftsman journey would lead. Whether you are just starting out or are a seasoned artisan, my goal is to make your leatherworking journey smoother, more fruitful, and truly inspiring.
Welcome to our community—let’s strive for excellence together!
