Meet Rodney and Rindala from RG Handcrafted goods in Vancouver. In this guest blog post, they tell us about the team’s process to create unique leather products – carefully from start to finish.
The RG brand was created in Vancouver, BC, by a couple who decided to share their passion for handmade products and sustainable living. In 2020, Rodney and Rindala took a jump into design and what comes around it. If you haven’t met them yet, picture them as travelers and life lovers, looking to be as independent as possible, living life close to nature with high regards to preserving craftsmanship, the most ancient human knowledge handed down by generations of farmers and artisans.
Their leather goods reflect an attachment to natural elements and to small scale manufacturing.
Remember your parents’ story on when they used to get their measurements taken for shoes? RG aims to reconnect you with this feeling of knowing that something is being made specifically for you.
“RG’s products are the work of an artist inspired by a solid attachment to craftsmanship and an artist at work should never be rushed. “
Rodney starts by hand picking and examining the best cuts from full grain and top grain vegetable tanned leather on which he manages to lay his hands. RG’s products are made from different leather thicknesses and grains depending on the nature of the product. The first step in the making process is sketching. A simple idea explained with a paper sample is then discussed with the team for practicality, comfort, and aesthetics. The RG team starts a conversation for bespoke orders with customers, and reaches a final decision on the product design, dye and finishing.
After that, Rodney measures and cuts the leather, displaying his many interesting tools happily around him. In his studio, Rodney is a master of focus. He flows with his numerable small toys, as his spirit seems calm and peaceful. He will enjoy making as long as he knows that he can put a piece of his mind in it. He is not interested in copying and repeating, on the contrary, he is looking to satisfy his craving for creativity and finishing touches. Rodney works with leather almost as if it were dough. The material will be molded, skived, dyed, creased, punched, edged, glued, burnished, and then stitched with two needles and experienced artisan hands. RG’s products are the work of an artist inspired by a solid attachment to craftsmanship and an artist at work should never be rushed. Each of the tasks is handmade, allowing time for the leather to develop into a unique and stunning product.
The wait time to receive a custom leather piece might be two to three weeks, but the RG team believes in the excitement of waiting for something that is being made specifically for you. They take the title of “Artisan goods” very seriously and they adhere to the work ethics this requires. All the RG goods are finished with specific oils, and dyes are sealed with specialized products. Rodney improves the leather’s flexibility and sheen by treating it with his own homemade leather conditioner. The many hours that pass between the moment an order is placed and until the piece is ready only reflect the attention and care put into every step.
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