It's me
I am Dominik Gräber, the artisan behind Gräber Lederarbeiten.
I was born in 1998 in beautiful Saarland, and ever since I could hold a pencil, I've been expressing myself creatively. Whether it's crafting, drawing, or painting, the love of creating new things has been with me my entire life. As a teenager, however, I began to draw less and less, expressing myself creatively, and asking myself the question: "Why am I doing this?"
I found the answer in archery in 2018 when I decided to "craft" my own leather bracer and decorate it myself. From that moment on, I knew I could combine art with utility to create something unique that served a purpose beyond aesthetics.
The following years were characterized by constant learning and discovery of the world of leatherwork. Since 2021, I have been an official freelancer, primarily creating unique pieces according to customer specifications.
My values are quality and functionality, thus keeping authentic craftsmanship alive. Nothing is machine-made; my pieces are designed and handcrafted by me from the ground up.
My work
People often don't know what really lies behind my work. That's why I'd like to give you a little insight.
My work usually begins with an untreated, naturally tanned piece of cowhide. This is then trimmed and "tooled." During the tooling process, the motif is hammered into the leather using various tools to create a three-dimensional effect. This only works in the untreated state.
Only then can the soon-to-be unique piece be colored by hand. This can be done using cloths, brushes, or an airbrush. After the piece has been colored and sealed, it usually needs to be combined with other pieces to create something like a wallet, guitar strap, or arrow quiver.
Each hole is punched by hand and everything is sewn by hand with a saddler's seam and high-quality thread, creating a long-lasting, unique piece that is incomparable to any industrially manufactured product.
This is a lengthy process that requires a lot of time, patience, and dedication, but the result is always worth it.
Have I piqued your interest? Find more insights on YouTube and Social Media. Or just write me direct a message!
