The Bombus Story
Look to the cow for inspiration.
A respectful nod
Bombus Leatherworks, established in 2018, was born from a deep passion for not only leathercraft, but also from a deep respect for the animals that died to supply each hand-selected hide used in Bombus bags and accessories. Leather, while merely a byproduct of the meat industry, tells a story of the cow's life. Some hides come with imperfections like scratches, bug bites, and blemishes from injuries, and others still have been branded to mark ownership-- a cruel and painful process.
I believe that these animals should be able to have a voice through the products I make. Each cow has a story to tell, and wherever possible I try to let the leather sing loudest in the chorus.
Tiny, but mighty, role models.
Behind the name
The name Bombus Leatherworks was inspired by my second passion, studying native bees. Bumblebees are in the genus Bombus, and I can’t imagine a more worthy namesake. Those little ladies are industrious, fearless, bold, and beautiful.
“The process is very therapeutic, I can get lost in it. Punching holes, especially, is a great way to get out some aggression… Hand stitching gets tedious; making sure each stitch lays flat and has even pressure takes time but the result makes it worth the effort.”
— Kristen
Just Beeing Kristen
Kristen lives in North Seattle with her husband, Adam, and dog, Nikita. Besides quality leatherwork, she is passionate about native bees, macro photography, environmental conservation, a good hoodie on a cloudy day, and promoting a world driven by love of others rather than hatred and fear.