Ozzy Chien

Birgu Blue

Leatherworker

©Olharuccya

©Inigo Taylor

From tech to leather

Ozzy honed his leather making skills with Stefano Conticelli
He specialises in hand stitching techniques
His work combines a clean aesthetic with functional design

Ozzy Chien has always felt naturally drawn to leather and the magic that unfolds when it is shaped, worked and stitched to create a functional piece. Having left behind a job in tech in his native Taiwan, a period of reflection led him to take a short course in leather crafting. This experience made him realise that the craft was his calling and brought him to continue his studies in Italy, first in Milan and then in Rome, seeking to learn from the very best and from the places where leather craftsmanship has deep roots. After refining his skills under the tutelage of master artisan Stefano Conticelli, Ozzy moved to Malta to open his first workshop in the historical hamlet of Birgu. Here, he blends his inspiration drawn from the island’s rugged terrain and textures with his crafting expertise to create unique leather products.

Interview

©Inigo Taylor

©Inigo Taylor

What is a memorable moment in your professional journey?: Last year, I began collaborating with a local Haute Couture fashion designer to launch a luxury leather accessories collection. It has been widely appreciated and we received incredible feedback. This collaboration and its response has given me great satisfaction.
What do most people not know about your work?: That making hand stitched bags is extremely time consuming. A bag can easily take 50 hours to create from scratch, from the design process to the pattern making and the final hand stitching.
What provides you with the greatest sense of fulfilment?: I love the moment when I stitch. It is when I am engaged in a perfectly silent state of mind. I feel time is frozen and my mind is extremely clear. I find peace within. Also, when clients show their appreciation and satisfaction with what I create – that too gives me great joy.
How would you describe the essence of your craft?: I would define it as being the sum of my experiences and cultures. From my designs, you can almost read my background; how I was educated, what my aesthetic point of view is. I am originally from Asia, therefore my creations are minimalistic and convey a sense of Zen and peacefulness.

Ozzy Chien is an expert artisan: he began his career in 2015 and he started teaching in 2019