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

My name is Navid Najari and I am the owner of Desert Dweller Leather Co. once located in Phoenix, AZ, but now currently in Golden, CO.

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

I predominantly make small leather goods such as wallets, belts, key fobs, valet trays, but I occasionally dip into bags and other larger projects from time to time.

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

Without a doubt it is an additional table in my work space. I bought a solid, yet cheap table to complement to my main workbench off Craigslist a year or so back. Having the flexibility to spread out my work over a larger area gives my mind some clarity and reduced the clutter that we all dread.

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

I certainly learned a lesson when I was first starting out about the strength, or lack there of, of double capped rivets on a collar I made for a family member. That was an interest conversation to have when they explained that their dog took off on a walk when one gave out. Thankfully, they safely recovered the dog and I’ve since switched to rivets and burrs for a more permanent hold on anything that requires a strong bond.

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

This is difficult, the talent that is out in the leather working community is incredible. I particularly admire Rich’s work with Salazar & Sons. It seems he effortlessly blends a unique style of creativity and elegance to each of his products, plus he was one of the first leather workers I followed. I’d love to make a backpack 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.)

I built a “rustic” looking photo backdrop out of some wood which I sanded and stained for my products. It’s upped my product photos a lot and has given me a little more drive to learn better photography techniques along the way. Plus, is was a cheap and fun project to do in my spare time.

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

Well, I’m glad I’ve since graduated from this, but when I first started out, I did not have an awl so I fashioned one out of a fork. I left one prong on and filed it down and attempted to polish it – and you know what, it worked decently well for opening up my stitching holes on thicker projects. I’ve since upped my game with a nicer awl that is not meant as an eating utensil, but I miss that fork.

In the last five years, what new mindset, behavior, or habit has most improved your leather craft?

Well, I’ve only been a leather crafting for 2 years, but I would say knowledge sharing has been something that I have trying to focus on for a while. I remember being so frustrated when I was first starting the craft because I couldn’t get something to look a certain way to just flat out didn’t know what I needed or who I could reach out to. I try to share as much knowledge as I can to those who ask for it.

The community is great and eager to help those who are just getting started or are seasoned professionals. I think this has greatly improved my leather craft as I’ve been able to really think through my process and ask myself, how can I explain this step to another person? Is this the most efficient way to do this? It’s really allowed me to hone in on certain skills of leather craft.

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

If you are just starting out, let this hobby be exactly that…a hobby.

Often, we scroll through Instagram and see very successful leather crafters shipping out huge orders or leather collectors showing off 10 different versions of the same wallet they bought from one maker – and it can be tempting to rush into trying to sell products.

Give yourself, not only the proper time to learn good techniques, but also time to enjoy it for what it is. Be passionate about it. It’s much more fulfilling and most crafters will be better off down the line when they do transition to selling their products.

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

I’m going to harp on what most other makers have said before which is the narrative that you need to buy certain tools or a certain quality of tools to make worthwhile leather goods.

This is simply not true, you need a DRIVE and a PASSION to get started and grow in leather crafting which includes learning and constantly trying to improve on fundamentals.

You could put top of the line cutlery and cooking equipment in front of me, but I still couldn’t make a world-class meal.

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

The beauty of having a stressful, yet rewarding, day job is that I get to unwind and take my mind off of that through creating leather goods, so the days where I feel overwhelmed with crafting are limited.

That being said, when they do arise, I usually take a day off of everything leather related and go outside with my dog. When I feel less stressed, I usually take some additional time to look at other leather worker’s creations on Instagram, I feel like that usually builds motivation in me to get back to my bench and start working again.

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

I’m on Instagram @DesertDwellerLeather and also you can visit my website at www.desertdwellerleather.com