Daniel Ankarstrand

Kristian Eddé

Leatherworker

©Jon Mogard

©Petter Bäcklund

©Petter Backlund

©Daniel Ankarstrand

Master of simple skills

Daniel works with a pure by-product from the fish industry
He combines the elegance of salmon leather with minimalistic design
He loves the simplicity of products

Daniel Ankarstrand is a craftsman and the owner of Kristian Eddé. The brand stands out for its products made of durable salmon leather with Scandinavian minimalist design. His career was however not always this clear. He spent years as a family therapist, and it was only after his mother-in-law bought him an unattractive iPad cover that the fashion-conscious craftsman resolved to make a better one himself. He uses salmon skins, a waste product from the Norwegian fishing industry, as a form of leather. Not only does this satisfy his aesthetic calling, but it is also environmentally conscious. Rather than considering salmon skin to be a substitute for luxury leather, Daniel is adamant that it is far more luxurious and exotic.

Interview

©Jon Mogard

©Jon Mogard

Why did you choose this craft?: I have an obsession of mastering simple skills and I feel that that's the key to become a good leather craftsman. With simple tools and techniques, one can achieve so much. Even though my atelier today is full of all kinds of machines, it’s still the simplicity that I love.
Do you remember the moment you chose this craft?: I remember it very well. It was during the 2012 Christmas break. My mother-in-law gave me an iPad sleeve as a present and it didn't fit. I thought "how hard can it be" and so the obsession began.
What are your sources of inspiration?: The boundaries of using salmon leather are a great source of inspiration. The shape and size make it limited, and one always must have that in mind when designing. But I like that it is the material that shows the way for the design.
What do you love most about your profession?: To run a small business is so much more than just the craft. But sometimes I go to the atelier late at night and just work with my hands, no emails, or thoughts about the business, I just have the craft on my mind. These days remind me why I fell in love with this profession.

Daniel Ankarstrand is a rising star: he began his career in 2016