What gives an object value?

We often look for the answer in its materials, the hours spent making it, or its rarity. These things matter, but we believe there is another kind of value. One that comes from the hopes, memories, and meaning the people behind an object bring to their work. A life dedicated to a craft carries a worth that cannot be measured.

Leather craftsmanship is a shared passion in our family atelier. For much of its history, this work has happened quietly, behind the names of others. Yet the people behind the craft have always been at the heart of it. People with lives beyond the atelier, with memories they return to, fears, small joys, histories, and things they hold dear. People like Laura.

Laura has been surrounded by leather for as long as she can remember. Her mother was a leather artisan who often took her along to work. The familiar smells of leather and the workshop, which greet Laura every day, are the same ones that accompanied her in childhood.

A trained craftswoman, Laura has spent the last decade working in our atelier. Today, among other things, she is responsible for the delicate hand-stitched elements and careful construction of our pieces.

We recently sat down with Laura for a personal conversation about what her work means to her, the memories she returns to, and the little things that make her happy.

You've spent so much of your life making things with your hands. What do your hands mean to you?

For me, my hands are my direct connection to the world. They are both the tools I work with, but also what I use to express affection when touching someone dear to me, and how I turn ideas into reality. They are my way of leaving a mark on the world. They are not just for work; they are a reflection of my values of patience, attention to detail and dedication.

When you were little, what did you dream of becoming?

Honestly, when I was a child, I didn't know what I wanted to become, and I don't think I worried much about the future either. I only dreamed of growing up and doing something that would bring joy to the people around me. The fact that today I can put energy, time and soul into an object made by hand, and the idea that this object might one day be loved by someone, is the most beautiful way that childhood uncertainty found its answer.

Is there a smell that immediately reminds you of childhood?

The smell of warm bread, either from my father's bakery or from the countryside, where my grandmother also often baked bread in a wood-fired oven.

What is a memory you return to most often?

My childhood always smelled of leather and I was always surrounded by leather craftsmanship. My mother was a leatherworker, and she often took me to work with her. I remember one particular day, she let me make my own little backpack. I made it all by myself, and out of a child's imagination, I even gave it two big rabbit ears. I remember being so happy. I often relive that joy of creating something unique with my own hands in the atelier. It was also one of the moments when I understood that leatherworking can mean magic, freedom, and, at the same time, love for what you do.

If one day you no longer worked with leather, what would you like to do?

At the moment, I'd let myself be guided by something I already love, beyond work: designing and making lavender arrangements. For me, gathering stems of lavender into bouquets and letting my creativity roam brings me a sense of gratitude. It would be a natural transition from my current work to something equally filled with fragrance, colour and creativity.

What do you hope someone feels when they hold something you've made?

I hope they feel that they hold more than a leather accessory. I hope they feel that they have a story in their hands, something that now belongs to them and that it might one day become something truly special to them, because it was made with passion, time and a great deal of care.

We have to admit, when we asked you about your hands, we thought you might mention your nails. They're always so colourful, with a different design every time we see you. How do you choose them?

For me, having my nails done is a little ritual. It's a way to reset and start something new. The colours and designs often reflect my mood, the season, sometimes even the weather. Sometimes I'll choose something bright and playful, other times something quieter. I think they're a little window into how I feel at that moment in time, a way of expressing myself without having to put everything into words. And I enjoy the ritual itself, taking a little time for myself and doing something simply because it brings me joy.

Our conversation took place in Laura's native Romanian. Her answers have been translated and lightly edited for clarity, while preserving her thoughts and expressions.