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Form Leather

@form_leather

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followers

477

following

Meticulously crafted artisan leather goods.
Leather carefully sourced from tanneries using best environmental practices 🌱

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A little BTS on the cobalt blue leather pocket that will be inside the new duffle bag. Loving the interior color combination with the grey suede.

#luxuryleathergoods #leatherworking #custombags #formleather #luxurybags taken in Westport, Connecticut by @form_leather

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a month ago

The new fall Togo style🍂 #malefashion #sprezzatura #handstitched #fallfashion #crossbody taken in Westport, Connecticut by @form_leather

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a month ago

I spent years running Give, a luxury accessories line carried at Bergdorf Goodman and more than 100 boutiques. Handbags, travel bags, small leather goods — designed by me, manufactured across three factories in two countries, sold internationally. Editorial placements in Elle, InStyle, Oprah. Celebrity clients. The whole thing.

Then I stepped away to be home with my kids.

A chance friendship through my son’s preschool led me to Andy Janowski — former COO of Burberry, former CEO of Smythson — who hired me to design a men’s collection for a US factory. Andy was a dream to work for and I had a lot of creative freedom. I felt like I had it all. Until the project fell apart.

After feeling really down for a while, I realized I wasn’t willing to let go of one of the designs and negotiated to develop it myself. I went to my old sample maker for the prototype. It wasn’t right. Then I found @markhanks, a craftsman in San Francisco who saddle-stitched it by hand. It completely transformed the piece. I said: make me ten more.

He said no. “I don’t want to do the same thing over and over. But I’ll teach you how to do it.”

Mark was trained by Bea, who was trained by Hermès and still teaches saddle-stitching in San Francisco (@heirloomleathercraft). I eventually took her classes too — she finetuned my cutting and stitching at the foundational level. I had no studio so I worked at a maker’s space in San Francisco and in my kitchen. I had no skiver, so Mark did my skiving and eventually taught me how to do that as well. So I learned. Slowly, obsessively.

That’s how Form Leather started. Lots of no’s and closed doors. A combination of curiosity and serendipity. It’s now been 9 years of working at leathercraft and I have my own studio and don’t regret a thing. I think it’s because every time a door closed or a project ended, I took the time to look for the lesson and grow a new skillset. Now that I’ve been doing it long enough to consider myself a craftsman, I am building a business. Follow to come with me on the next chapter of this journey.

#allthecoolgirlsgetfired #leathercraft #femalefounder #leatheratelier #originstory by @form_leather

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a month ago

How is summer ending already? Fall shopping beats the end of summer blues. DM to work on a custom order so that you can look forward to fall. #calfskin #handstitched #fallfashion #custommade #handcrafted by @form_leather

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2 months ago

At Form, every detail counts. Sound on🔉 #leathercraft #behindthescenes #slowcraft #craftedwithcare #handstitched by @form_leather

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2 months ago

Every bag starts somewhere. This one started with the strap. Sound on 🔉 #behindthescenes #leathercraft #slowcraft #craftedwithcare #handmadeleather by @form_leather

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2 months ago

Made entirely by Christine Valenti in the Form Studio outside NYC. DM to order or schedule an appointment.

#leathercraft #handmade #handbag #leatherwork #leatheratelier by @form_leather

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2 months ago

In the age of AI, things made without a machine are the ultimate luxury. #bespoke #handmade #luxuryleather #leathergoods #artisinalleather by @form_leather

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2 months ago

Intentional design, from the inside out. We engineered these pockets so your daily essentials are always right where you need them—no digging required. #bespoke #handbagaddict #leathercraft #leatherwork #leatherlining by @form_leather

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3 months ago

Custom marquetry stripes for the large tote. A leathercraft technique that appears to be painted but in fact is perfectly aligned strips stitched precisely in place. #customleather #artisanleather #bespoke #leathercraft #handstitched by @form_leather

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3 months ago

This is what it sounds like before a bag becomes a bag.

Needle through leather. Thread pulled tight. A hammer finding its mark. Every sound is a step.

No shortcuts. Just the work.

🔊 Sound on.

#leathercraft #leatherwork #ASMR #leatherbag #behindthescenes by @form_leather

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3 months ago

The bar for luxury isn't just the product. It's every touchpoint. What are your pet peeves?
#leathercraft #relatable #customerexperience #leathergoods #consciousluxury by @form_leather

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3 months ago