CONtra: slow, thoughtful and handmade
My Story
I love making things with my hands, experimenting, testing ideas and bringing them to life. My creative energy grew when I learned to draw something and then create it, to draft and think technically about a creative idea. This first translated into sewing and small home goods, and led me down a career of interior design and architecture, which now guides my design process.
I’ve always considered myself a designer, more than an artist - I love making things for people, giving voice to a design, allowing my expression as well as others to be highlighted.
In 2017, I decided to make myself a leather bag. I wanted a beautiful bag that represented the kind of designer and architect I wanted to be. It would be modern, clean, simple, but very functional; casual and also look amazing dressed up; not bulky, but to carry all the necessities. This was the first iteration of the Lee Bag.
I accepted an architecture internship in Mexico City in 2019. 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 one he wore every day, and really wore the shit out of it, unlike how I used mine. I had to fix it multiple times. It was difficult and embarrassing, but an equally rewarding and informative experience. This inspired me to focus on details and techniques to create durable and lasting products.
The name Contra was created to embody this push back of mass-production and capitalism, but I think it actually marks the point in my career where I finally decided to trust myself and follow my own path - and me being in contradiction with the path people wanted for me. While creating Contra, although many things are truly stressful and scary, I am grateful to be able to curate how I want to work and live.
CONTRA’S Mission
Contra is an expression of beauty, quality and craftsmanship coming together. In a time where speed and quanitity is the norm, Contra focuses on slow thoughtful products that get better with time. Like a home, thoughtful design can withstand time, and style can age as well as the leather itself by accentuating the material quality and saddle stitched construction with clean functional details.
Our workshops provide a space for creativity, learning, experimentation, and to connect people back into the hand-made point of view. Our goal is to create a point of expansion around quality goods, how they are made, and the effort and love that goes into this process.
sustainability
Quality, craftsmanship and sustainability go hand in hand, in my opinion. And as Contra grows, it is important to consider how that affects our practices in a sustainable way.
First, we strive to use the best quality leather, and for us that is vegetable tanned leather. It ages beautifully and uses less chemicals in the tanning process. We also specify full-grain leather. This means we are using the natural finish of the hide, instead of shaving the top layer off to create a move even finish. This also brings another level of beauty to our products as they will all have unique textures and qualities. Full grain leather means less processing, less waste created, and a more durable product.
All of our leather goods are saddle stitched by hand. Not only is this a very durable stitch, but it is easy to repair, and is designed so the thread will not unravel.
Our production is made in small batches, as well as made-to order. Our material waste is re-used for smaller products, or donated to local art organizations.
