She gave up her optometrist job to craft leather accessories.
She gave up her optometrist job to craft leather accessories.
How did you get into handcrafting leather products?
I started working with leather three years ago. I was an optometrist then, but I was looking to try something completely different from what I was doing. I happened to attend a leather workshop with my husband and fell in love with the warmth and subtle nature of leather. I started experimenting during my free time, and a year later, we co-founded Ode à la Vie.
What does “Ode à la Vie” mean and what are some of the products you offer?
Ode à la Vie means “ode to life” in French. To me, that means honing a craft throughout our lifetime, celebrating the many experiences we go through, and sharing it with others along the way. We currently offer a collection of small leather goods such as minimalist wallets, coin purses and card cases.
What has been your most challenging project so far?
Communicating to my customers the types of leathers and crafting techniques we use. I try to produce socially responsible products that can withstand the test of time. This means more time and effort are spent on sourcing, and that traditional techniques are used to create the products. We try to make our customers aware of the process.
Name: Sabrina Soh
Age: 29
Job: Leather Crafter
Connect with Sabrina
@odealaviegoods
Get to know Sabrina
Five things that make her happy:
“Travelling, cycling, desserts, reading and Netflix.”
She knows her scents
“Aromatherapy is an instant moodlifter after a day in the workshop. I love to look for different scents made by local and overseas artisans. To date, my favourite scent has got to be bergamot.”
Her favourite country is Italy
“From the moment I was there, I fell in love with the architecture and breathtaking views.”
Text Compiled By Adora Wong.
