Typically you attempt studying a brand new ability and one thing simply clicks.
For Tyler Dietlein, he says that’s about the way it labored with handcrafting leather-based items.
Dietlein began his new pastime after taking a category in 2017 at Harless + Hugh Loft, which has since closed, as proprietor Deb Edmonds moved on to a brand new chapter with flower design.
“I’ve at all times been drawn to the general rustic look, whether or not that’s Wolverine boots or normal leather-based items,” says Dietlein. “I began out working with supplies and took just a few courses and it has sort of taken off from there.”
By day, Dietlein works at Dow in Provide Chain. After hours, he says he has at all times been the sort to have a pastime.
“As soon as I did the category, my curiosity in actually attempting this myself developed and I wished to maneuver away from pattern-based work and create my very own types. I picked up some instruments and began engaged on completely different stitches and designs,” says Dietlein. “At first, once I began out just a few years in the past I realized some actually laborious inventive classes on issues that didn’t work for varied causes, however that comes with studying something new.”
Dietlein turning a tote bag to the completed product. Tote luggage are sewn inside out.
He shared that studying completely different leatherwork expertise has additionally come by means of apply and studying from tutorials on-line.
“The leatherwork neighborhood has been actually useful alongside the way in which. There have been occasions the place I’ve had a query or a difficulty and different makers have been tremendous useful in responding how they might sort out one thing,” says Dietlein. “Claridge Leather-based and Low Tide Leather-based are two of my favorites and Claridge even has a tutorial for a tote bag sample they encourage folks to make use of. It’s been a very neat neighborhood to develop into part of in that facet.”
“And it’s sort of laborious to justify shopping for one thing new when you may make or study the talents to make issues your self, but when there is a pockets that I’ll have that I do not make for myself, it will be from Low Tide. They do many alternative shades of blues and pure leather-based, the standard is excellent, whereas nonetheless sustaining a little bit of that rugged look,” he says.
After making leather-based items as a pastime for buddies, household, and by request for just a few years, Dietlein obtained to the purpose the place it felt prefer it was time to make it official and create an official enterprise.
With that, Memento Leather Co. was launched in February 2020.
“It obtained to the purpose the place it was not only a pastime, each as a ardour, and as a mission,” says Dietlein. “Leather-based is finest priced in bulk, like when you’re shopping for a complete facet, as an illustration. So, in 2019, I had about 13 or 14 sides of leather-based, I had achieved sufficient issues for family and friends, but it surely was changing into a bit larger than your common pastime. At that time, I made the decision to make this an official enterprise about six months earlier than we launched. I used that point to construct up stock on what has been among the hottest objects, like wallets, totes, and bracelets.”
The title comes from some previous inspiration and a nod to the standard of supplies he sends into the arms of shoppers to make use of.
“Years in the past, I obtained a tattoo that reads ‘Memento Mori’, which is Latin for ‘bear in mind you’re mortal’ of types. It’s an previous saying from all through historical past that could be a reminder of our mortality as a way of motivation that has at all times meant one thing to me,” says Dietlein “After I was attempting to provide you with completely different names, I considered the tattoo. As a result of I wished to make a product that lasts and that was memorable, Memento appeared to be a pure match.”
His creativeness comes from different leatherworkers he has met or adopted on social media and cases the place he makes his personal tackle an merchandise.
“I picked up some background by watching completely different movies on Instagram or on-line,” says Dietlein. “Even watching how somebody does one thing particular, you decide up ideas or tips right here and there, even when it’s not a full tutorial. I’ve realized new stitches that method. Usually, I’ll apply on can koozies, simply so I can apply with a brand new sew.”
All of Dietlein’s items are lower, punched, and stitched utterly by hand, a course of he has come to like.
“It is a very sturdy course of, which is why lots of people actually like doing issues by hand. It does take much more time than if I had a stitching machine, which might lower my time in half,” he says. “However with hand stitching additionally comes sturdiness, which is why I solely use stable brass {hardware}. Every thing I make ought to simply final two to 3 occasions longer than you’d ever intend to make use of it.”
So, what’s subsequent in Dietlein’s patterns and plans?
“I need to begin making extra of one thing I’ve gotten just a few extra requests for lately, and that’s a smaller, crossbody-style bag,” he says. “After I began, they had been surprisingly harder than I assumed they might be, however from making among the bigger pc bag satchels that I’ve achieved taught me one other couple of strategies and find out how to go about it.”
“After I do new issues like that it’s at all times a pleasant problem to work with a brand new type and dimensions,” says Dietlein. “With one thing like that, I’ll template a brand new design in poster board first, lay all of the items out, match every part roughly collectively, after which from there it’s simply trial and error on the ending particulars.”
“I simply need to preserve getting higher at this and that’s basically how this complete factor developed,” he says.
Dietlein says essentially the most difficult facet thus far has been beginning a enterprise throughout a pandemic, and the period of time that goes into photographing and selling completed merchandise.
“Fortunately, my spouse has been sort sufficient to assist me with the advertising, social media, and promotion efforts alongside the way in which,” says Dietlein. “And among the occasions and artwork reveals we wish to get into have been canceled with the pandemic, so we’re wanting ahead to doing these occasions after they do begin again up.”
“It’s been thrilling and I’m actually pleased with him,” says Shannon, Dietlein’s spouse. “After I noticed the latest 3rd Road Artisan Market in Bay Metropolis, I knew he would do rather well there. He has an excellent product, and folks simply wanted to see it.”
“My father-in-law does customized woodworking, so it’s one thing we’re wanting ahead to doing collectively when we have now the prospect, just like the Midland Vintage Competition, the Midland Middle for the Arts seasonal occasions, and among the festivals in Bay Metropolis,” he says. “However thus far, most of it has simply been on-line, word-of-mouth, or somebody sees considered one of my designs and asks ‘the place did you get that?’ and I’ll get a message.”
Refining his craft and attempting new issues is considered one of Dietlein’s favourite facets of the enterprise.
“I’ve at all times been the individual with 1,000 completely different hobbies. You title it and I’ve most likely tried it out as a pastime,” he says. “So, sticking with one thing for some time and actually refining it to the purpose the place I felt snug with the ability to constantly make a top quality product that folks like and use has been a enjoyable and significant a part of the method.”
You’ll find Memento Leather-based Co. online and on Instagram and Facebook.
