A leather rollercoaster: from saddles to sculpture
- Sofia’s passion for leather started with horses
- She has used salmon skin from restaurant waste
- Three of her pieces will be exhibited permanently at Hôtel de Crillon
Sofia Shazak only makes unique, customised objects, from saddles and harnesses for which she is widely known, to decorative pieces and furniture. She once created a punching bag for a Netflix series and has also designed special pieces for haute couture shows, such as a moulded neckline for a Maison Mugler dress. Creating timeless pieces that are ethically sourced is at the core of Sofia's values. The leathers she uses come from Europe exclusively, are vegetable tanned and are never from endangered species. Sofia feels as confident manipulating leather using traditional techniques as she does new technologies: researching, experimenting and pushing her boundaries are her drive. "Shallang is a Hungarian ornamental harnessing technique from the 19th century that I was able to ‘decode’ just by looking at photos," she says.
INTERVIEW
I have been a rider since my childhood and was always in contact with leather and harnesses. This material is like my ‘Proust Madeleine’. I like to challenge it: it offers multiple possibilities for modelling – bovine, goat or marine.
Objects that allow me to push myself technically and that trigger an emotion in the viewer.
The majority of my skins come from food recycling. A skin has had a life: it has scars and marks. It must be tanned respectfully. The skins that I use come from Europe and I refuse to work with exotic leathers unless they come from dormant stocks.
Thirteen! Each one plays an important role: strap cutter, abat-care, shaper, burnisher, bullet shaped cutter, enchapure cutter, round cutter, trimming knife, half-moon knife, needles, round awl, diamond awl and thread cutter.
