40 under 40: Meet Kindred Willow

Every Monday, we are celebrating one of our 40 under 40 makers.

This week we are getting to know Kindrew Willow, a leather worker with a strong focus on history inspired work. Get to know him with our Q&A. 

Tell us a bit about what you do?

I have a strong focus on historically inspired leather work, predominantly items that would be found upon the battlefield, such as scabbards and shields. Though I also make a wide range of more modern items like knife sheaths, belts, wallets and more, with the focus always being on making products that when cared for should last many years.

How did you get into making leather goods? / What, or maybe who inspired you to start making?

I first tried leather working through a group that occasionally did historic crafting. Having done wood working for years before then, I immediately enjoyed it and began teaching myself as much as possible. What really clinched it was, unlike woodwork, it was far easier to work from home - with no need for large workshops, rather just a workbench and a handful of tools.

What is your favourite product to make/favourite commission piece?

While I generally enjoy most items I make, I do love when I get the opportunity to make a highly decorated shield or scabbard. The detail that can be included and the relatively large area that I can work with makes every one of them unique and a joy to look at once it’s finished.

What do you love most about working with leather?

Mostly the freedom that it provides. The huge range of uses it can be put to leaves plenty of room to experiment with different ideas, and then each of those is a blank canvas in and of itself, with countless options for how to decorate the final product when wanted.

What are your next goals/ Have you got any exciting new projects lined up?

My goals are largely to continue trying to expand my name. In time, I’d love to work alongside others in larger projects that brings all sorts of different skill together. As for my current situation I have a number of high-end commissions underway that have been great to work on thus far, and with the end insight I can’t wait to see the finished products, nor the customers reactions when they receive them.

What advice would you give to someone who is thinking about becoming a leather worker or who has just started out?

Go for it. Get some offcuts, some stamps or whatever else you might need and just start practicing. YouTube is your friend, there are loads of great makers who have invaluable advice to offer, no matter the skill level. Don’t shy away from books either, there is a trove of knowledge among leatherworking books pretty much regardless of what you’re interested in making.

What does it mean to you to be included on the 40 under 40 list?

I was genuinely elated when I was told. The past year I’ve slowly been making more of a name for myself, and while customers often say the love the products etc. There’s always a feeling that this is simple politeness – being on this list though is an affirmation that people do genuinely like the work that I do, and I couldn’t be happier.

How important do you think it is to keep traditional techniques alive in the modern world?

Very, very important. The loss of any knowledge is always a tragedy, but the loss of a traditional craft always feels more devastating. While knowledge can often be rediscovered, the breaking of a lineage or crafts cannot be mended. Particularly with my focus on historical works, I often look back and see how much knowledge has been lost, and it does always seem a shame when that link to the past is lost

What have you done to keep relevant in a digital age?

One of my first priorities was to get my own website, having one is vital to keeping your presence out there without relying on third parties. I do have a social media presence, though I’m also aware I should probably be more regularly active, rather than my current “tactic” of giving regular updates for a week or two before going quiet for months. One of my plans is to start filming my work and getting that out there.

What is the biggest challenge to becoming successful in your discipline?

That is a difficult one, I work within a fairly niche market that’s very geographically spread out and hard to target online, so while gaps exist it’s a lot of work to make it known that you’re there. In the coming year or two one of my main goals is to travel to more events (which represent a large portion of the sales market) in an effort to just get my work known farther and wider.

For more information, please visit www.caledoniancraftsman.com
To join this network of great makers, please follow Kindred's instagram page HERE