Steffi Kerschbaumer and her l’atelier team at paper republic have created more than 1000 bespoke leather journals and other leather items for customers worldwide. From Studio Ghibli and Dr Who inspired portfolios, to memorials of missed loved ones, she shares her path into the world of leather work, her favourite journal creations, and why unique leather journals have become so sort after…
You head up l’atelier – paper republic’s bespoke leather making team – who create unique, fantastical leather journals and other items. How did you get into leather work?
I’m from a small town in the north of Salzburg but came to Vienna to do a textile design degree some years ago. After that I worked in Hamburg on pattern designs for a while, but I realised I needed something crafty, something more hands on.
So I did an internship with a shoe company, then went to study footwear design in London. That's how I got into leather. After that, I came back to Vienna and opened a little workshop, making shoes, wallets and other leather items.
It was at that time I met Jérôme – founder of paper republic – who was making the grand voyageur journals. I liked what he was doing, and when I’d decided I’d had enough of being self-employed, I joined paper republic.
What do you love about leather?
The smell and feel of it. And I like that leather work tends to be more intricate. I used to make clothes, but I prefer working with lots of little parts, rather than a few large parts. Leather work is also a rarer skill, which appealed to me.
How did l’atelier begin?
We were getting so many special requests from customers, we realised we needed a department dedicated to creating bespoke leather products. So we formed the l’atelier (French for ‘workshop’) sub-brand. It operates like a little company under the umbrella of paper republic. We make all the out-of-the-ordinary requests for journals and leather items.
How do you go from a customer’s idea to a finished journal?
Firstly, a customer sends over their request, and they speak with Ani and Evelyn from the l’atelier team. We then refine the idea into something that is practical to create. Often there are little details which need to be fleshed out. Once the customer is happy with the design, we start making it. Depending on the complexity of the item, Ani and Evelyn will carry out the work, and I normally work on the most complicated designs.
What tools do you use for bespoke leather journal making?
Lots. We use craft knifes for cutting the leather patterns, sewing machines for stitching pockets and embroidery. Hammers for flattening the leather where it needs to be glued. Lighters for burning off any excess thread and edge burrs. And most importantly - our hands.
What are the most unusual journals you’ve made?
We have had some really creative requests over the years. A few that come to mind include:
- Tardis journal (from Dr Who)
- World Map portfolio
- Chessboard portfolio
- Fish portfolio
- Houndstooth portfolio
You can see more information about these, and other designs at our l’atelier gallery.
What are the most complex designs you’ve created?
I recently completed a leather portfolio inspired by Cartagena, a town in Colombia. It had a lot of small pieces and was very complicated to make. It took a whole week to finish but the result is beautiful.
Other complex projects include a Studio Ghibli inspired landscape with lakes and mountains, a playing card deck holder, and a special leather passport holder for a pilot.
Are some requests so complicated that you have to say no?
Actually, I say yes to almost everything! Then when I start working on it, sometimes I wish I had said no! But I love doing new, complex designs. It keeps things fresh and also challenges me in new areas where I might have to learn a new technique.
Is it nerve-racking when it comes to the final embossing on a bespoke journal which has taken days to make?
I used to feel a lot of pressure on that final embossing, especially with some of the older machines we had in the early days which weren’t always completely reliable. But not so much anymore. Unless the embossing itself is very complicated too. These days we have top notch tooling and we know how to use it.
What’s your favourite part of the entire leather journal making process?
Assembling all the parts. After I've cut all the little pieces and start putting them together - that’s when you see the journal coming to life.
Can you tell us a memorable story behind one of the journals you created?
There was one about a girl and her mother, who passed away. She wanted to make a portfolio because she was using journalling and art to help her through her grief. The idea was based on an old photograph of her and her mother standing under their favourite magnolia tree. It was a beautiful concept.
I have also made a lot of embroidered journals with people’s dogs, cats and horses on them. For some, the journal is a beautiful way to remember a lost person or pet. A lovely example of this was a customer who sent us the photo of her leg, where the footprint of her dog was imprinted after standing on her lap. We created an embossing stamp of this footprint and then a portfolio for her with this memory.
I also once made a portfolio with a big heart and a real cardiotocograph (CTG) shape stitched onto it for a cardiologist.
Why do you think bespoke leather journals have become so popular?
People love to create something completely unique and to put something of themselves onto their journal; a little piece of their heart that’s important to them. A bespoke leather journal, portfolio or other product makes a unique gift that will turn heads and start conversations; a treasure they can keep forever, maybe even pass on to the next generation.
Want to create your own completely unique leather journal or other leather product?
If you can dream it, we can craft it.
Get in touch with Steffi and the l’atelier team here.
