the name

So what's in a name you might ask? Well, everything. 

When Claudia and I began the business in 2011 our first decision was to choose a name. We asked life to give us direction and inspiration for this and life faithfully answered.

Trace of Grey Designs is the name we were given. It landed so well because it captured the spirit of how we both experience the whole of life. As a living philosophy it goes something like this,

" a trace of grey is that invisible presence which permits a connection between something that is and something that is not yet seen. A trace of grey is forgiving and accepting of clean lines, blacks and whites etc., but will relentlessly attempt to soften their borders. Beauty is found in that space, where white is exposed as black and black is exposed as white...what bridges the two is the trace of grey."

As fate would have it we later discovered that in some versions of old English slang, 'to TOG yourself' means, 'to dress yourself smartly'. Indeed, this was a happy and serendipitous surprise because each piece in the collection is always marked with the letters TOG, the acronym of our name.

the passion

Doing what I love is a living gift of beauty that feeds & nourishes my soul and the souls of others.

In some magical way, I get to experience each design as an expression of the Greater One who flows through my imagination, to me, to my hands and into every piece I bring into form. I am in awe that I know how to do what I do.

the philosophy

As an artist and maker, I believe each piece is made for a specific person. I never create the same design twice which keeps the process fresh, new and enjoyable. There is such pleasure in watching someone connect with a piece from the t.o.g collection and realize that it was actually made especially for them.

Trace of grey designs has remained strong in the philosophy of doing everything by hand and never out-sourcing or bringing in the idea of mass production. With this comes a higher price tag. Clients of t.o.g understand and appreciate that they truly are purchasing something unique, created from the heart, one piece at a time, by one person, and that it will last them a very long time. Creating in this way ensures integrity is at the heart of craftsmanship.

Uniqueness, beauty, quality and attention to detail make an item from trace of grey designs worth the investment.

the process

Leather is the medium I have chosen to work with because of its tangibility, its imperfections, its longevity, and its inherent quality to become more beautiful with use and time. I mostly work with cowhide, but sometimes I choose other hides that are lighter in weight (lambskin, pigskin, goatskin) for elegant detailing. All of the leather I use is full grain. This is important because of its inherent durability. 

I am mostly drawn to earthy tones, perhaps because this is my own colour palate of choice and earth tones tend to go well with most things. Each season I do choose one 'colour' or something unique in texture to throw into the mix. This is fun for the inspiration it brings to new design ideas. 

Vegetable tanned cowhide is a favourite for t.o.g. The majority of the tanning process is without chemicals and the hide is left undyed. As a designer and artist, this is like having a blank canvas to work with. Veg tan leather can be hand dyed and embossed. When left to itself, it will darken to gorgeous tones of caramel as it is used and exposed to UV light. It literally suntans. The end result, both in texture and colour,  is not something that could ever be manufactured. 

I source the leather from two suppliers, both local to Vancouver, BC. The majority of the leather I use is coming from the USA, Italy, Mexico and South America. Going shopping for leather is a most enjoyable process because I get to hand pick each hide myself. It can take quite a bit of time to find just the right hide, with just the right edges and unique markings. It is well worth the effort though. 

The hardware I choose to use is also hand selected by me.  I aim to find the best quality, and, whenever possible, will choose solid brass hardware. I am always on the hunt for unique buckles, closures etc., and these can be found in the most unexpected places. Good hardware is key to creating a good design, not just for its function, but for the aesthetic beauty it adds

I design and hand craft each item in the t.o.g collection the old school way. Leather is hand cut with a ruler and knife, holes are pre-punched, one hole at a time, and pieces are then stitched together completely by hand, using needles and thread, love and patience. I don't have multiple projects going at the same time, rather, I give my undivided attention to the one in front of me. This allows space for design ideas to surface in the process, and, when the piece is finished, I experience a tremendous sense of completion.

I am so grateful to call 'work', that which  I love to do.