Conversations with the Inspiring Kerrin Pogozelski

Today we’d like to introduce you to Kerrin Pogozelski.

Kerrin, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I didn’t set out to be an artist or have a leather-working business; I wanted to make myself a bag. What I found was that selecting different materials, making patterns to create something from nothing, and finding people who loved my work, was actually my true north, my passion, and quickly became my happy place.

Finding the perfect leather, or hide and then letting it speak for itself is what I feel is the most gratifying part of my creative process. Seeing a brand mark or scar as a highlight in a bag, or clutch gives each creation of individual distinction and rustic charm. Leatherwork has been the most purposeful vehicle to bringing my creative voice to reality. It fills me with pride and integrity to see a piece finished.

I work with a plan, but also an open vision. My patterns have changed based on the natural lines of the individual hides to bring out as much natural beauty as possible. The repetitive nature of leather-work allows my imagination to run wild and include happy accidents and creative surprises in my pieces.

My most recent work is a combination of structured lines inspired by modern construction and organic elements such as jagged edges and hair-on-hide. I feel this combination is full inclusion of my experience in life thus far. It is inclusive of my years living in the mountains and more recently, living in a diverse urban cityscape. It represents how two different worlds can marry seamlessly and offer fashion, function, and form.

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
If I’m honest, this question made me laugh a little.

I don’t know a single fellow woman-owned business who hasn’t struggled. From finding your focus to finding your customers, its a daily grind. There are taxes and your schedule whether that be regular hours at a shop or just being active online.

I have had so many obstacles, but most recently I had a pretty sad case of burn out. I do a lot of art shows, many of which require me to travel to other states. Although I truly love this side of my work-meeting new people, both customers, and artists, it gets grueling.

I found myself in a quiet and lonely place with lots of questions and little confidence. I think this is also fairly common with creative businesses.

Luckily, I have a strong support system in my family and had the timing of a pretty extreme personal challenge. To hike the Grand Canyon rim to rim. That brought me right out of my funk with a greater appreciation that everyone can fall down the rabbit hole, but that we can also find our way out and still be in love with our craft/small business and the process as a whole.

Please tell us more about what you do, what you are currently focused on and most proud of.
I make leather bags. That’s the simple answer.

I make leather bags using materials I personally select based on their uniqueness, perfection, and quality. I love to make functional art with materials responsibly sourced that my audience has never seen before. I love learning more about the leather industry and in turn providing this information to my customers.

I specialize in highly textured leather and treated cowhide. I am known for both a creative yet edited aesthetic and for building relevant sophisticated leather accessories.

Modern, Rustic, Badass bags for the Fashionable Adventurer.

It would be great to hear about any apps, books, podcasts or other resources that you’ve used and would recommend to others.
Oh! I love listening to podcasts!

Some of my favorites are:
-NPR’s How I Built This
-Her Money with Jean Chatzky
-I Love Marketing
-Super Soul Sunday Oprah
-Science VS
Armchair Expert Dax Shepard
And, I can’t lie, I absolutely love True Crime. so Sword and Scale is a big one on long road trips.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.buxiejobags.com/
• Phone: 9704700235
• Email: buxiejobags@gmail.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/buxiejo/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/buxiejobags/

Image Credit:
http://jenniferfaris.com/

Getting in touch: VoyageDenver is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.