Kara Ginther - Design Bureau

Kara Ginther

Kara Ginther

Kara Ginther

Kara Ginther

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Kara Ginther

Tuesday, December 28th, 2010

Leather artisan Kara Ginther started creating hand-carved bike saddles with the intention of showing off design’s imperfections and wound up starting her own bike seat company. The designer, who says she finds inspiration from ancient textiles, embraces the imperfections and unique marks that come from hand-detailing. “I believe that it is important to maintain the hand of the artist in my work, and carving leather lends itself so well to this,” she explains.

Ginther hand-carves all of her bike saddles using fine wood-carving tools, a process that can take up to two weeks to complete. The intricacy in Ginther’s work is achieved by shaving off a thin layer from the leather’s surface, creating rich color and textural contrasts. “The process demands so much concentration. I often cannot afford to make even one mistake,” she says. Her meticulous work process translates into beautifully complex designs that elevate the mundane bike saddle to an extraordinary design object.

Custom Brooks bike saddles, $99-400

 

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