Gerda Retter

Leatherworker

©Erakogu

Details on the leather canvas

Gerda did several internships at leather workshops in Italy and Hungary
Her passion to create and share beauty drives her work
Her trademark is spatial forms and geometrical shapes

Gerda Retter's approach to craftsmanship has always been quintessentially Nordic: while devising her leather goods and bags, Gerda always respects traditional handicraft and prioritises simplicity, minimalism and functionality. In her workshop, situated in the renovated Soviet factory complex in the city of Tartu, Gerda crafts her collections in small batches in order to ensure slow production and that every bag maintains high quality. Drawing inspiration from her travels, Gerda is not a typical tourist; instead, during her journeys she tends to notice the small things around her that later inspire her work. She can adapt into her creations impressions such as the relief of a church altar, a wall painting, or even a small crease on the corner of a sofa.

Interview

©Gerda Retter

Why did you choose to work with leather?: Ever since I was little, I used to make dolls, gloves and jewellery from different materials. But after going to Tartu Art School, I decided to study leather, as I knew it was right for me. I was attracted by the versatility and durability of the material.
What do you love the most in your profession?: I enjoy the free creative flow of my work: I never force myself to create new products, and ideas come to me organically. I can be inspired by different details or shapes, and it always surprises me in just how many places I can find something that speaks to me.
What does well made mean to you?: For me, it is something that can be most compared with slow fashion. That means, a product made from high quality materials and that is really curated by craftspeople, who are passionate about their work.
Can you recount a memorable moment in working at your craft?: Once, a woman who had bought my bag attended one of my workshops. She was so surprised to find out where her bag was made, what the story behind the product’s creation was. She said that for her the bag had acquired an even bigger emotional value after the workshop.

Gerda Retter is an expert artisan: she began her career in 2012 and she started teaching in 2022