Carina Sohl

Leather embosser

©Lindblad Studio

©Carina Sohl

©Simon Viklund

Preserving nature's beauty in leather

Carina hand-embosses leather using real plants and flowers
For her very first patterns she used raspberry plants and black leather
Her daughters help her gather flowers from the fields around the studio

Carina Sohl works as a leather artist in the Swedish countryside. After graduating from her art and craft studies, she developed an innovative technique of embossing patterns on leather. Her daughters work alongside her in the creation of these patterns, which are one-of-a-kind, just like every pressed flower they use. Together they source flowers in the surrounding countryside and, back in the studio, sort, classify and organise the flowers and plants they have gathered. “What I do cannot be compared with traditional embossed leather, because creating patterns with natural flowers requires a completely new and innovative kind of artistic craft process,” Carina says.

Interview

©Carina Sohl

©Carina Sohl

Why do you enjoy this craft?: I love exploring nature´s possibilities and limitations with this slow craft process, and preserving natural beauty in my leather patterns. To obtain the best results with our innovative and artistic craft technique, it’s important to use the highest leather quality.
Who do your products appeal to?: After years of research and development, I have specialised in couture patterns: my leather workshop supplies fashion houses, luxury companies and private clients looking for something rare and unique.
What can your embossed leather be used for?: Our patterned leather can be applied in numerous ways, and we are always open to new and interesting ideas. We work with interior, fashion and accessories designers. We are currently developing large leather wall panels for a private yacht.
Does any moment in your career stand out to you?: I have met a lot of designers from luxury fashion houses who have never seen my kind of craft technique elsewhere. I was quite excited when I was invited to the Chanel workshop in Paris to create leather patterns for them.

Carina Sohl is an expert artisan: she began her career in 2007