Vigour & Skills - Meet the Maker: Georgie Tym
Georgie is a leather bag designer, maker and enthusiast at heart. She’s been creating, crafting and teaching leatherwork for over 10 years. Her passion for bag design and creation has led her on a journey from making bags for brands including Nike, Jaguar, M&S and Cherchbi, to fulfilling her dream of starting her own bespoke bag business, Hands of Tym.
We chatted to leathersmith and London College of Fashion Lecturer Georgie Tym, for a little insight in to her journey of leather craft, her creative processes and how she inspires future generations.
How did you get started in leatherworking and what drew you to this craft?
I began my journey into this craft studying at The London College of Fashion - Bag and Accessories. Initially drawn to learning to design and make accessories I discovered leather on my very first day and was instantly hooked. I learnt about how leather is a bi-product of the meat industry, an enduring luxury recycled material and how circularity is at the heart of the manufacturing process. Once I started crafting with leather my love for it grew and grew, the possibilities are endless with so many finishes, textures and applications. The finished result is incredibly satisfying, totally gorgeous and tactile but best of all the longer you have it the better it gets! The most wonderful element of a natural leather is that similar to wood or clay it embraces its natural lines, wrinkles and markings which are unique and provide an individual personality to every piece.
Can you walk us through your creative process when designing a new leather piece?
My design journey is a constant buzz inside my mind, I am forever thinking of designs and bags, it might be a detail, it might be a full shape, it may just be a texture.
The inspiration for these ideas come from the everyday, it might be a practical solution to a problem I am having, it might be a moment walking through the woods, experimenting with leather in the workshop or an artefact seen in a museum or art gallery. I find the bubbles are always there, but it takes a moment of inspiration and clarity for these to fuse together and the time will be right to sketch designs and finally work these through to patterns ready to craft it in a series of 3D models to perfect the bag or accessory design. My process then is about experimentation and trialling - until it is exactly perfect. When you get it right and it not only looks gorgeous but works and functions perfectly too it is such a joy and lovely to share this with others!
What are some of the most challenging aspects of working with leather and how do you overcome these challenges?
When you have been used to sewing fabric and moving into using leather often the challenges you find are that the material is now much thicker and dense and the stitch hole is permanent and so issues arise if the work is not correct the first time. These issues can be helped with thinning the leather appropriately or using methods suitable for the thickness chosen, alternatively using a very thin leather.The stitch hole issue comes with addressing the first issue with thickness as this often creates problems when sewing, sewing by hand and meticulous planning before starting. Another challenging part of leather is knowing the leather you are working with and how best to handle it, there are many many varieties in leather choice (animal, grade, tanning, finishing etc)
Can you tell us about a particularly rewarding project or commission you have worked on?
I love to create bespoke items exactly as the customer requires. Often clients will ask for my bag or accessory but tweaked to accommodate something or to serve a specific function.
I once made one of my designs to fit a customer's oxygen tank, I have also made items from my collection but with materials saved from beloved pet collars or preloved suitcases. I have worked with artists and brands but often the most touching projects are the small and personal ones which mean so much to the end user.
As both a maker at Vigour and Skills and a teacher at the London College of Fashion, how do you approach teaching leather working to others?
I am open and generous in my skills and knowledge. I have a passion for sharing the magic which I find in creating and making with others. The love I have for this craft has embodied my whole life and brings me so much joy, I want to encourage others to share this passion and explore the endless possibilities of this beautiful natural material.
How do you stay inspired and continue to innovate in your work?
I never stop learning, reading, watching and experimenting in leather. There is always more to learn and develop. The innovation can come in terms of new equipment, new materials or new making techniques, the industry is constantly evolving. I stay inspired in keeping my heart and eyes open, I love live theatre, music and experiencing exhibitions, but often find inspiration in the most mundane and day to day experiences. I also ensure I keep a sketchbook with me at all times, especially on public transport where the most interesting of bags can be spotted!
