MY STORY
I love making things with my hands, experimenting, testing ideas and bringing them to life. I love making things for people and giving voice to a design.
My creative energy grew when I learned to draft and think technically about a creative idea. This led to a career in interior design and then architecture.
In 2017, I made my first leather bag. I wanted a beautiful bag that represented the kind of designer and architect I aspired to be. It would be modern, clean, simple, but very functional; casual and also look amazing dressed up. This was the first iteration of the Lee Bag.
In 2019, I accepted an architecture internship in Mexico City. During a meeting, I met my first leather bag client, sitting on the rooftop of this castle-like courtyard building. He picked up my bag and asked who it belonged to and where they got it. I made him 3 bags in total.
The name Contra was created to embody this pushback against mass production and against the capitalist mode of work. I think it also marks the point in my career where I finally decided to trust myself and follow my own path. In my arch. career, which I worked so hard to achieve, I was missing something: a hands-on way of creating and collaborating. Contra creates a space where I can do all of this (while still dreaming about building my own home one day!).
finding inspiration
Every time I go to Mexico City, I try to cross off one of the architectural landmarks on my list, and two weeks ago I was able to snag a spot to tour Casa Pedregal. Casa Pedregal (built between 1947-50) is located in an area affected by the Xitle volcano, so the house was built ontop of and around lava fields. I was fascinated by the wood and leather furniture throughout the house. It was all made by Clara Porset, a Cuban designer who worked with Barragán. Her story was quite expansive for me; I too am creating a home here in Mexico from Canada, and finding so much inspiration in the traditional ways of making and the materials used. I feel like this was a ping from the universe telling me that I am on the right path.
mission
Contra creates leather goods that connect people with craft, quality and thoughtful design. Each product is designed to soften and patina over time, using Mexican full-grain, vegetable-tanned leather, thoughtfully considered for everyday use, and hand-stitched to stay with you for years.
sustainability
Quality, craftsmanship and sustainability go hand in hand, in my opinion. First, we strive to use the best quality leather, and for us that is full-grain vegetable-tanned leather. All of our leather is sourced from Mexico.
All of our leather goods are saddle stitched by hand. Not only is this a very durable stitch, but it is easy to repair.
FOUR YEARS OF patina
Contra turns 4!
Although this hobby started many years before, four years marks the point where I consciously decided to grow my leather bag passion into a business. I believe the brand is evolving into something more elegant, soft but solid, with more definition and beauty with every passing day. Our core mission, to create products with quality and craftsmanship, has not changed; it has only deepened and become more present in every decision made.
leather care
Leather Care: For vegetable-tanned leather goods
My step-by-step guide: how to maintain your leather goods for optimal lasting quality.
the first [lee] bag
I was 27 (2017), in architecture school, and searching for the perfect bag that represented the aspiring architect I was becoming. I wanted it to embody my design style, refined functional ideas, and love for material quality. I didn’t find anything (in my budget), so I decided to make one. I knew how to sew, I had made many things for my home, how difficult could it be?