Sylvie De Pauw

Leatherworker

©Maria Santos

©Alberto G Saenz

©Maria Santos

A pragmatic turn towards craftsmanship

Sylvie trained as a leatherworker in her mid-thirties
She discovered her vocation for craftsmanship while visiting New York
She is French and lives in Spain

During a trip to New York in September 2010, Sylvie De Pauw observed that artisans enjoyed a life combining elegance, tradition and design with beautiful shops in the East Village. "I understood that there was a demand and appreciation for artisanal crafts, and I felt a connection," she says. Upon her return, she sought technical and practical training that had proven professional prospects and found the Boudard School. Here, she trained for a year and obtained the title of Sellier Maroquinier D’Art. "I had always liked leather as a material, so I decided to train as a leatherworker. I wanted to find out if my hands had the ability to create," she adds. "My speciality is hand stitching and edge burnishing. I work with double leather, on the outer and inner (lining) parts of an item."

Interview

©Alberto G Saenz

©Alberto G Saenz

How would you define hand stitching and edge burnishing?: They are two official traditional techniques. Hand stitching is done with waxed linen thread, two needles, and an awl. Burnishing is done with heat and dye, applying several layers and sanding each layer to obtain a smooth and matte edge. The innovation lies in applying these techniques to any project.
What skills does your craft require?: I am very observant, and I am inspired by the beauty of everyday life, textures, and beautiful, noble materials. I am also inspired by other crafts such as upholstery, marquetry, and embroidery.
What do you enjoy the most?: What I love most about my work is that no two projects are the same, and that I learn something new about a technique or the material with each new project.
Is there a difference between hand stitching and machine stitching?: Hand stitching is more durable than machine stitching. For me, something well-made involves applying an high-standard technique, ensuring the accessory produced can be renewed or repaired.

Sylvie De Pauw is an expert artisan: she began her career in 2011