Conversations with Kristopher Kaiser

Today we’d like to introduce you to Kristopher Kaiser. 

Hi Kristopher, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I grew up with my mother being an avid quilter. She would make very large wall quilts and intricate dolls, and I suppose that rubbed off on me. At the age of 5, my mother taught me how to thread a needle and make simple stitches, but I didn’t have much interest in it. Instead, I gravitated towards drawing, painting, and sculpture in high school and college, and eventually fell into leatherworking in 2011 when I wanted to make cosplay prop from a popular sci-fi show. Long story short, I utterly failed at my target project and settled for making a steampunk-inspired wrist cuff and attached a watch to it. Two weeks into wearing it I ran into someone who loved my creation so much he bought it off me! It was here that I decided to go into business selling steampunk-inspired items. Then, a few years later I got into riding motorcycles and started filling a demand for custom motorcycle bags for some less popular models. Fast forward to now, I make bags for brands such as Yamaha, Honda, Suzuki, and Indian, and find myself making belts, wallets, custom gun holsters, vests, and even hats! 

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
The road for me has been fairly smooth. I slowly stepped into my craft and started out small, then began to ramp up as my demand became greater. The plan from the start was to appropriately scale my business over time and control order flow so as not to become overwhelmed and burnt out. Leatherwork is a passion of mine so I only make so many items per year so that I don’t get tired of doing what I enjoy. 

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I specialize in custom leather motorcycle accessories and take inspiration from the art-deco era to design my creations. I love making saddlebags and other utility bags, as well as leather vests and hats. I am most known for my unique designs and willingness to experiment. If there’s a specific function or design you want, I’ll do my absolute best to accommodate. 

Where do you see things going in the next 5-10 years?
I’m not quite sure where the leather industry will go in the 5-10 years. However, I truly hope that people will begin to rediscover the utility and sustainability of leather products as we, as a culture, try to shift away from plastics and other throw-away materials. Leather lasts a lifetime: That’s a simple and powerful value proposition! 

Pricing:

• Leather repairs: $10-50
• Belts: $45
• Motorcycle bags: $50-200

Contact Info:

• Email: [email protected]
• Website: https://www.etsy.com/shop/BrassHorseLeather
• Instagram: brass.horse.leather
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BrassHorseLeather