by Micah McGrath
I grew up working with my hands, fishing, hunting, gardening, making my own toys, mostly in rural Appalachia. When I was a kid I had no money to buy fishing lures, so I made my own, and remade them till they caught fish. I’ve lived in many places and worked many different trades since then, but New Orleans has been home for me for about 12 years now.
I’ve always loved making things. I got into leatherwork because I was making my own knives for woodcarving projects and needed sheathes for them. I’ve settled on leatherworking primarily in the last 5 years, and am really enjoying it. I love taking a raw cowhide and turning it into something simple, timeless and useful. Every part of my process is done by hand: cutting, dyeing, waxing, stitching, etc.
I’ve been doing a Cosmic Collection recently that’s really fun. Basically, I take some really rich and vivid dyes and splatter, spray, and soak the leather till I’m satisfied with the look. To me, many of the pieces look like those super-telescope photos of space and constellations, so that’s where the name comes from.
I want to be part of a world that values beauty and superior quality over mass-produced kitsch. I want to make people one bag that they can use and appreciate for the rest of their lives.
I’m fortunate to have some retail show space on lower Decatur in the French Quarter, part of the Renegade Art Gallery. If you look up Micah McGrath Leather Works I should show up on the map. I’m there Fridays and Sundays, and work from my home shop the rest of the week. Come by sometime and say hello!
Renegade Gallery
1222 Decatur Street
New Orleans, LA
micahmcgrath.com
Instagram: micahmcgrathleatherworks
email: micahd330@gmail.com
