Trace of Grey crafts it old-school with leather

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      A good leather bag is hard to find, especially when all the bags in the stores seem to look exactly the same. Because of this, A Trace of Grey Designs is a breath of fresh air. It’s the brainchild of Claudia Krieger and Monique Ouellette, who create interesting one-of-a-kind leather pieces completely by hand.

      The duo decided to work with leather because they were fascinated by its versatility and quality. “It’s a very old tradition and our philosophy is ‘old-world craftsmanship in modern time’ and doing everything by hand,” says Krieger, at A Trace of Grey’s studio in North Vancouver (165 Whonoak Road).

      “It just gets better over time,” adds Ouellette. “If you have something that’s really truly quality leather, it just evolves and gets better. And so both of us really love the fact that we’re creating something and there’s such a high integrity in not only what we’re working with but also how it’s made.”

      Each piece goes through many steps to become the finished product. First a paper pattern is created. Then, the leather is cut and all the stitching holes are individually punched with a hammer and leather punch. Next, the stitching is done and details such as buckles and pockets are added. Finally, the finishing touches are put into place.

      It’s a laborious process, and one that can take anywhere from eight to 20 hours per piece. However, the results are stunning, and that is the reason that A Trace of Grey has been gaining a loyal following since the company officially started in 2011.

      “[The customers] just decide that ‘I’m not going to go to the Bay or I’m not going to go to Gucci and buy this bag that is mass-produced that has nothing individual about it,’ which isn’t a bad thing,” says Krieger. “But they make the decision that they’re going to have something that’s made just for them, that is just totally unique.”

      Of course, the time-consuming process means that their pieces can get pricey. Their most affordable items are their cuffs ($30 to $85), some of which are embossed or printed with black symbols or text. Their bags range from $175 to upwards of $1,000 for intricate custom pieces.

      One of their bags in particular, the travelling hipster ($495), is unlike anything that is sold in other stores. The narrow, rectangular bag neatly rests across your back with the strap resting along your chest. The two pockets inside and the one buckled pouch on the outside give you plenty of space to compartmentalize your items. The bag comes in a range of different types and colours of leather, from distressed grey to warm, buttery brown.

      A Trace of Grey also makes belts ($125 to $300), journal covers ($90 to $150), and wallets and cardholders ($60 to $95). If you can’t find something that interests you, feel free to chat with Krieger and Ouellette anyway—they love doing custom orders.

      “We get this all the time that this thing that you have in your mind doesn’t exist,” says Krieger. “So you can come to us and we can sit down together and we draw pictures and then we decide, ‘Okay, is this something that we can do?’ Then we create something with them that then comes from a dream or thought that then turns into reality.”

      Also, A Trace of Grey products come with a lifetime guarantee. If something falls apart or breaks, or even if you think the bag would look better with different embellishments, you can come back and Krieger and Ouellette will work with you to make sure you’re satisfied.

      “Our desire isn’t to mass-produce something over and over and over just to make a lot of money at it. We both love the fact that I’m so sure that what I’m giving you is fabulous quality,” says Ouellette.

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