Thanks for joining me!

This blog marks my return to leather craft after an absence of several years. And will contain everything from how to tips and build along tutorials to a resource directory that I hope will connect leather crafters with both the suppliers they need to make their products, and the customers who want to purchase them.

My Journey as a Leather Crafter

My journey began when I was a college sophomore back in ’72, and wanted to make Christmas presents for my family.

Along the way I’ve worked flea markets in Kentucky and Ohio; been a rare book restorer; taught leather craft in a federal prison; worked craft markets in Austria; explored the possibility of starting a leather craft company in Bangkok, Thailand; and, most recently, became the admin of a Facebook leather craft group with over 2700 members : Leather Smiths : Buy Sell Trade.

Why Akweks?

In part, I chose akweks because, according to some of my extended family, I am part Mohawk through my maternal grandmother, and was born and raised near the St Regis Mohawk Reservation; also known as the Akwesane Reservation 

In part, I chose akweks because I really like eagles. Like the ancient Romans, I find them to be magnificent birds. So, it seemed only right to honor my alleged Mohawk heritage with a company named after a bird I love.

But the main reason I chose akweks is because my first choice, and the name I had been using, Maverick Leathers, was being used in one variation or another by everyone and their brother for a company and/or product name.

Wanting to have a more unique name, I chose to use the Mohawk word for eagle : akweks.

Unlike Maverick Leathers, which could be confused with a lot of companies, Akweks Leathers can only refer to me. Which makes it a much better choice.

Pronuciation

Akweks is pronounce a-gweks; with the first “k” and the “w” being pronounced like the “gw” in the name Gwen.