Interesting meeting with Fred Eisen, leather designer in Pennsylvania

Fred Eisen

One of my favorite things to do is visit quaint little towns and browse their unique shops on a nice sunny day. Lots of these interesting spots have inviting bed and breakfasts which are always enjoyable for a weekend getaway. But mostly I turn these pleasurable outings into day trips.

I like to take the “when in Rome” approach. What I mean by that is to learn what makes the town tick, then spend a day in the life. Enjoy what the town is offering just like the locals do. What is it all about? What’s the history? Who are the locals and what do they like to do? Just kind of live amongst the townies for a day.

I find that just browsing around and striking up conversations with people is the telltale sign and reveals what the town is all about. Whether you are in a coffee shop, a gallery, a local restaurant or one of the town’s old artisan stores, you will notice these towns are full of history, and you will almost always find some interesting person who would love to tell you their story and what brought them to this unique town.

I recently found myself in one of my favorite little towns. I was doing a closet audit in Pennsylvania, and my boyfriend and I decided to spend the remainder of the day in New Hope, PA. I like to visit New Hope every fall and spring. It’s such a great little town to wander around.

On this particular trip, I ran into an interesting fellow who I’d love to tell you about. His name is Fred Eisen of Fred Eisen Leather.

As I walked into the store, I was instantly hit with the distinct smell of leather, followed by a glimpse of a sewing machine in the far corner. My eyes are doing a once over, to figure out what exactly this shop is about. I see knives, bags, leather goods, wristbands, fantastic old hats, et cetera. My interest has been piqued.

I see briefcases, belts, wallets and more. The store is small but has layers and layers of handcrafted goods. I was drawn to all kinds of things hanging on the walls. Being a designer myself, when I see things like this, the creative juices start to flow. Nothing excites me like being inspired or going head to head with other creatives like myself.

Behind the counter a man with a fabulous leather top hat asks if he could help me. I ask him what the store is all about. He explains how their handcrafted leather working skills encompass a diverse sense of style and design, bridging fashion and utility.

He informs me that he has been designing leather goods for 30 years. I was intrigued, so I told him I designed women’s clothing for 20 years, and we instantly bonded. We spent the next 20 minutes talking about our passion and how the industry has changed throughout time. This man was speaking my language and validating my thoughts on our fading craft.

I asked him where he manufactures, and he said he sews right out of the store, and he offered to take me over to his sewing machine. We continued our conversation as he finished sewing a purple custom leather piece.

He explained that Fred Eisen Leather also features the work of other fine leather craftsmen and designers that he has become acquainted with during his 30 years in business, along with his own work. He goes on to explain, “When you are a craftsman, it is easy to recognize quality craftsmanship. It’s a joy to promote other craftsmen, and we do.”

I totally related to what he was saying. As he was briefing me on the history of the town and the store, I couldn’t help but feel like my mission for the day was accomplished.

Thank you, Fred Eisen, for the great convo, for your inspiration, and for making my day complete. To my clients and blog readers, plan a day to walk around New Hope, PA, check out the fantastic handcrafted leather goods, say hi to Fred and tell him “Styled” by Andrea Caprio sent you. Enjoy!

Check Fred Eisen out on https://www.facebook.com/FredEisenLeather or FredEisenLeather