Curiosity over Expertise
Curiosity is one of the biggest secrets to staying interested in your work.
Most of my career has been spent designing travel goods, but I haven't had many opportunities to work deeply with shearling or hair-on calf.
One of the things I love about shows like Lineapelle is finding materials that surprise me.
I had some great conversations with suppliers about the different techniques used to achieve their finishes and textures.
The shearling was magnetic - some hides had tight curls, others long, each achieved through different finishing processes.
Then there was the hair-on calf with colors and treatments I'd never seen before.
My favorite was a tie-dyed collection from Couro e Arte in Brazil.
It took me back to summer afternoons experimenting with tie-dye as a kid. Seeing that same sense of play translated into a luxury material was unexpected, and joyful.
I also make a point to look for emerging alternatives alongside traditional leather. I was a little surprised there weren't more next-generation materials represented this year, and I'm curious to see how that evolves.
Sometimes the most valuable thing you can bring isn't expertise, it's curiosity.
-Jessica Lee, Form Space Cofounder, Product Designer
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