Function deserves beauty
- Joost's skills were perfected with masters Francois Dumas and Michael Marriot
- Cuir bouilli is one of his favourite techniques
- He has been granted the Leather Sellers Award for three years in a row
Dutch born Joost Pasmam fell in love with leather while studying Product Design at the University of Applied Science in Amsterdam when, during his internship with Francois Dumas, he was asked to source the leather component for a chair Dumas was designing. At the time he had no idea how leather was really made, so when he was sent to the biggest leather merchant in The Netherlands and “walked into this massive warehouse full of leather, organised by all the different sizes, colours and textures”, his jaw dropped. Something sparked at that moment, because on the way home, he knew he wanted to make something with this material. A few years later, he moved to London and what started as a passion is now a very successful enterprise.
Interview
- What skills did Francois Dumas and Michael Marriot teach you?
- Although these designers do not have a direct connection with leatherwork, they taught me a great deal about how to design a product. The internships, in Amsterdam with Dumas and in London with Marriot, have shaped me into the designer I am today.
- Do you have a favourite technique?
- My skillset is mainly focused on the sewing machine but during my internship at Michael Marriot I focused on making leather into a constructive material and I did a lot of research into cuir bouilli, an ancient technique to make leather hard by exposing it to boiling water.
- Where did the idea of making bags come from?
- As I get most of my inspiration from looking around me when I am on public transport or walking around in cities, I have always been intrigued by what bags people wear when they are out. My first project that made an impact was a bag for baristas on the road – it held 6 milk jugs, 2 weighing scales, 2 coffee tempers and a range of spoons.
- Do you have an ideal bag?
- I always look for the most efficient solution possible. However, as I do not want the efficiency to compromise the good looks of a product, my ideal bag is one that is extremely practical and efficient yet remains trend aware and stylish.
Joost Pasman is a rising star: he began his career in 2017
Where
Joost Pasman
