What is your name, your leather craft business, and where are you located?

Yusuf Osman of YUSSICO located in London, England

What types of leather goods do you make, or what is your role in the leather craft business?

I love designing and making city bags for men and women and I’m slowly trying to love making smaller items (it’s a very slow process!).

I’m also super passionate about spreading the gospel of creativity and making things by hand. I teach leather craft in schools, host regular taster workshops and I teach privately for those who want to delve deeper.

What purchase of $100 or less has most positively impacted your leather crafting in the last six months (or in recent memory)?

I have not made a purchase in the last six months and in this craft many purchases top the $100 mark.

A purchase that I absolutely love is my Pattern Master. It’s indispensable when drafting patterns and cutting leather because it has a center line and useful measurements for seam allowances and the like.

How has a setback, or seeming setback, set you up for later success in leather craft? Do you have a “favorite failure”?

Every journey has setbacks and my leather craft journey is no different.

A learning that impacted my personal growth was realizing that better leather and tools would not necessarily make me a better craftsman.

A learning that impacted my entrepreneurial growth was realizing that craft ability and business success are separate beasts. Striving to be the best craftsman motivates a part of me but I need to have a sustainable business underlying it. Without a sustainable business the craft is just a smokescreen or a hobby.

The craft and the product are important but if you want to make a sole living from leather you really need to work on the business side.

If you could collaborate with another leather crafter to make an item, which leather crafter would it be and what would you make?

When I first started exploring leather craft on Instagram, it was the earlier work of Huns Lee that truly inspired me. His unique designs combine exceptional skill and a sense of humor. If I could I would collaborate with him.

What is one of the best or most worthwhile investments you’ve ever made? (Could be an investment of money, time, energy, etc.)

It’s difficult to rate something as best because every investment has given me a level up – be it better pricking irons, an electric creasing tool or my own skiving machine. I really enjoy the Japanese Studio Tac leather craft books.

What’s an unusual or odd technique in your process that you’re pretty sure most people don’t do?

My workflow is pretty standard. I use baking paper when gluing because the glue can be rubbed off and the paper used again. I also use a hairdryer when edge painting because I find it’s crucial to get that paint set as soon as possible.

You recently starting offering leather crafting classes. It’s one thing to know something, and a whole different thing to teach. What, if any, difficulties have you had with teaching a skill that wasn’t necessarily hard for you to learn?

Prior to working with leather – I dabbled in many creative pursuits (and still do!). As a student I’ve experienced my share of bad teaching. Although I had a flair for it, ‘perfecting’ my leather craft took time for precisely the reason you state – having experience and knowledge and transmitting it are not exclusive. These days there’s a lot of money to be made in reinventing the wheel and selling ‘secrets’. If you’re good with your hands, you have some decent tools and you know the right techniques – with a little practice you can produce excellent work. Honing that skill takes time, as does developing your style.

What I find difficult to teach is acceptance. Students who have never worked with their hands nor worked with leather criticize themselves because they can’t do things perfectly the first time. That’s when I have to remind them that I would not expect to walk into their offices and expect perfection on their job with the first try.

What advice would you give a smart, driven person about to get into leather craft? What advice should they ignore?

I would ask this smart, driven person what their motivations are for getting into leather craft before I give any advice.

If it’s a hobby – remember to have fun!

If it’s a business – remember to have fun!

It’s a privilege to be able to follow your heart and do what you love. Although the road is long and the going gets tough at times, we must remember to count our blessings and enjoy the ride.

What are bad recommendations you hear in your profession or area of expertise?

That it’s possible to live in the global north and make a primary living from making high-end hand-stitched bags.

When you feel overwhelmed or unfocused, or have lost your focus temporarily, what do you do? (If helpful: What questions do you ask yourself?)

Working solo and wearing all the hats in my business, I often get overwhelmed, I lose focus because I keep having too many ideas or things just pile up and I get frustrated. I usually take a step back and do other things I enjoy – aerial circus, running, climbing, yoga, cooking, baking, binge watching a series, cleaning the house, sleep – anything else but leather! Being around other people allows my brain to sort itself out so I can return back to my studio.

Another thing I find really useful, especially when I’m focused too much on the ideas or business side is to bring myself back to the craft. This reminds me that my first love is making things with leather and my hands. This almost meditative process helps take me back to the essence of my motivations and I reconnect by making something small before moving to a bigger project.

Where can people find you (links to online store, blog, twitter, Instagram, etc.)

To book a workshop: https://www.airbnb.co.uk/experiences/198774

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yussico

Website: www.yussi.co