Introduction
My internship that I need for completing my bachelor's degree, I spent at Lapaporter. Lapaporter is a Berlin label, based in Mitte and founded by Ilka Brand. It manufactures leather accessories for 18 years by hand and puts great emphasis on sustainability and durability.
All products are made by the team in the Berlin studio in Brunnenstrasse. It is the place of all creative work. All new product ideas, designs, prototypes and all orders are made here. Traditional hand tools and special leather processing machines are used.
All products are made by the team in the Berlin studio in Brunnenstrasse. It is the place of all creative work. All new product ideas, designs, prototypes and all orders are made here. Traditional hand tools and special leather processing machines are used.
About Lapaporter
Since Lapàporter was founded in 2008, the vision is to create beautiful and practical protective cases for your mobile devices. Functionality and a clear silhouette characterize the style, puristic but never boring. A Lapàporter accessory always dresses you chic and makes it easy to store mobile devices practically and stylishly in everyday life. In the leather studio in Berlin Mitte, durable accessories are designed and manufactured. In each piece consists of century old traditional bag maker art with modern design. The aim is to revive the leather craft and bring back the awareness and appreciation for handmade products. Over the years, the product range has evolved to meet the versatile occasions of everyday life. From iPhone cases that fit snugly, to iPad cases that carry the Apple Pen, and small gift items like keychains or glasses necklaces. The products that make it possible to have your hands free are special. Small practical accessories with which mancalles have with them. These include the belt pouches, cell phone pouches to hang around your neck and of course cell phone chains. Lapàporter has launched the first leather cell phone chains. A Lapàporter product is not mass produced and is made especially for the customer according to your order. This way resources are saved. The leather and the metal parts are produced in small quantities especially for Lapàporter, so there is no waste due to overproduction.
Leather
A natural byproduct of the food industry, leather is perhaps the oldest form of recycling. It has a long useful life and is easy to repair and maintain. Leather can be recycled and is biodegradable. Leather is inherently beautiful. It has personality and the longer you wear it, the more unique it becomes. The famous leather patina that forms over time gives each product a very unique look.
Production
I worked with a wonderful team of talented and creative colleagues in the creation and production of the designs. Expertise goes into each leather ascioir made for the client. Out of respect for the animal and nature, we honored the leather. From the stitching to the cates, we paid attention to detail and combined traditional bag art with functionality and purist design. This resulted in high quality products that you can enjoy for a long time.
Acquired skills
- Overview of leather types and leather production
- Distinguishing between different qualities of leather and the correct leather selection for the product to be manufactured
- Preparing leather for processing
- Use of tools for leather processing
- Drafting pattern and pattern development of a design
- Understanding cutting patterns for leather processing
- Adhesives for leather processing
- Sewing leather by hand using the saddle stitch, two-needle technique
- Attaching buckles, zippers and buttons
- Making and sewing in inner linings
- Manufacturing of inside pockets
- Professional grinding, polishing, dyeing and sealing of edges
- Embossing on leather
- Distinguishing between different qualities of leather and the correct leather selection for the product to be manufactured
- Preparing leather for processing
- Use of tools for leather processing
- Drafting pattern and pattern development of a design
- Understanding cutting patterns for leather processing
- Adhesives for leather processing
- Sewing leather by hand using the saddle stitch, two-needle technique
- Attaching buckles, zippers and buttons
- Making and sewing in inner linings
- Manufacturing of inside pockets
- Professional grinding, polishing, dyeing and sealing of edges
- Embossing on leather
Some tools for leather processing which I have learned to use
PRICKEISES - Use the prickers to punch the holes in your leather. So you prepare your seam.
EDGE BEVELER - This small edge planer or edge breaker is used to round off the leather edge.
FRENCH EDGER - You use this edge planer to thin out the leather.
EDGE SMOOTHER - The edge smoother or edge polisher will help you beautify your leather edge and make it smooth.
EDGES: COLORING AND PREPARATION
Hammer - A hammer is used a lot in leather processing: for hammering holes, fasteners and when embossing.
GLUE - The right adhesive is of great importance in leather processing.
ROUNDAHLE - Die Rundahle ist ein vielseitig einzusetzendes Werkzeug. Man benutzt sie um: Löcher zu stechen oder zu weiten, zum markieren von Linien und Punkten beim Schnitt erstellen auf Papier oder auf Leder
SPACHTEL - To apply the glue
LEATHER SCISSORS - To pre-cut your leather you will need a good sharp pair of scissors.
Insights into the atelier
Photo shooting
YouTube video shooting, editing and cutting
Product content with me
Acknowledgement
I would like to thank my supervisor Ilka Brand for the 6 months of experience.
It was a very intensive and at the same time valuable time that I will always remember with pleasure.
Through this internship I have grown in myself and have developed further. I was able to take responsibility and work independently on projects. Through Ilka I have learned many new skills and strengthened existing ones. The insight into your work in the studio was unique and showed me many sides that a designer has in his work and which one has not experienced so far in his studies.
It was a very intensive and at the same time valuable time that I will always remember with pleasure.
Through this internship I have grown in myself and have developed further. I was able to take responsibility and work independently on projects. Through Ilka I have learned many new skills and strengthened existing ones. The insight into your work in the studio was unique and showed me many sides that a designer has in his work and which one has not experienced so far in his studies.
