by Pat Peralta
I know; leather craft and wellness are topics that are almost never discussed together. But being a leather crafting instructor, and having had over a thousand students at our studio, I have seen and heard first hand how the two are correlated.
When we started holding workshops in 2014, the intent was solely to share technical skills. Little did I know that for most students, workshops would not only be a means to learn a craft, but also a positive experience that would contribute to their overall well-being. Here’s why:
1. Crafting provides a sense of fulfillment.
My favorite part of every workshop is the end. Not because I’m glad it’s over! But because by the end of the class, the students would visibly be on a high from having made something. Not just something, but something that looks, feels, and even smells good! (Yes, leather smells good!)
There’s an immediate sense of fulfillment. It’s important to note though, that while it’s immediate, it is earned. Leather crafting is not too easy that it becomes boring, and not too difficult that it’s discouraging. More importantly, regardless of prior crafting experience or a natural flair for handiwork, students in a class would come up with the same quality of work. It’s a good self-esteem boost for anyone!
2. There is joy in sharing the work of your hands.
Sure, students are temporarily elated after finishing a workshop. But the joy becomes deeper when they start making for others. Because leather goods are usually practical objects (i.e., bags, wallets, pouches), they make great gifts, and are very sellable too. I have heard from students many times how emotionally rewarding it was for them to have someone else appreciate the work of their hands. It feels great to be appreciated by family and friends, but more so when strangers love their work so much that they would pay for it! Sharing their work inspires them to keep on making more.
3. It’s a break from the busy workweek.
Instead of using their weekends to get a massage or long sleep, there are those who prefer to hammer their stress away at the studio. Some can actually work on their crafts at home, but they come to the studio anyway to be surrounded by other crafters and to be in a creative environment. This is why we get such a diverse mix of people – from full time designers and artists who would take classes for their portfolio, to corporate professionals who crave a change of scene from time to time. So before they face another Monday, they recalibrate with creativity.
4. It can be a productive diversion from grief.
There’s this particular student who shared with me how leather crafting helped him get through the passing of his mother. He said that he was caring for his mother for a long time, that when she passed, he was at a loss on what to do next. Leather crafting became that something that he could do, and in a simple way, it helped him through a difficult time.
Several other students expressed how the craft helped them manage grief, anxiety, depression, and other deep personal challenges. Not to say that leather crafting is a cure; NO. But it could help the mind take a break from internal stressors as much as it could help others take a break from a busy workweek. The fact that you get to create something at the same time is just an awesome plus!
5. Some would even discover not a new hobby, but a new passion.
I know it becomes more than a hobby when they start to identify themselves as leather crafters. “I am a manager, and a leather crafter.” It becomes a part of who they are. One student, for example, started with a Basic Leather Crafting class as a corporate project manager. Now, she still is, but she is also a bag designer who has had her work repeatedly shown at Fashion Runway Manila. There are also those who take it all the way become full time leather workers!
To be honest, running a studio can get tough sometimes. But whenever I hear stories like these from students, or even when I simply see on Instagram that they worked on a new leather project, I’m quickly reminded of why we do what we do. It’s more than teaching technical skills. It’s sharing what leather crafting has done for me personally. It’s the sense of fulfillment and inspiration from working with our hands. It’s sharing the craft as a breathing space from stressors both internal and external. And of course, it’s sharing my passion, which could possibly be theirs as well.
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