Kathrin Heubeck

Leatherworker

A quest to create the perfect bag

Kathrin is completely self-taught
She only uses regional, vegetable-tanned eco leather
Simplicity is key to her work

In 2012 Kathrin Heubeck was on the hunt for a simple, chic, high quality leather bag. But to her surprise she couldn’t find what she was looking for in all of New York. So she decided to take matters into her own hands. An architect by training, she used her aesthetic experience and her model making skills to create her perfect bag in her Brooklyn apartment. “I wanted to do everything by myself and learn things from scratch,” she says. Since 2017 she has had a workshop and store in a prime spot in Munich, and her leather goods, made to the highest ecological and aesthetic standards, are now renowned in the city.

Interview

How would you define the handbag?: The bag is much more than just a fashion accessory, it is a constant companion that allows me to carry my very personal things with me at all times, like a portable personal space. But of course, a handbag is also a fashion statement.
Is simplicity just an aesthetic choice?: No, it is also a source of inspiration. In the design process, I always focus on the character of the material. It is a mindset that keeps me on track, questioning every detail no matter how small; for example, does it really need this rivet or double seam?
Why leather?: For me leather is still the most beautiful and durable material when it comes to bags. However, it is important to me that the leather is produced ecologically and is also ethically sustainable.
How do you ensure that?: I only use regional eco leather. The raw material comes exclusively from southern Germany and adheres to the strictest ecological standards. The tanning is done using vegetable agents such as olive leaves or rhubarb root.

Kathrin Heubeck is an expert artisan: she began her career in 2012