Meet Greg Park

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Greg Park. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Greg below.

Greg , we’re thrilled to have you sharing your thoughts and lessons with our community. So, for folks who are at a stage in their life or career where they are trying to be more resilient, can you share where you get your resilience from?

Resilience, for me, is something that’s developed through a journey that’s been both tough and eye-opening. Growing up without parental guidance and experiencing homelessness, I didn’t expect much from life for a long time. I often made choices that weren’t great for me.

I’ll never forget the day I lost my home in a fire. At first, it was all panic as I watched everything go up in flames. But then, unexpectedly, it shifted into something else… a strange kind of awe. In that moment, I realized that no matter how tough things get, there’s always a different way to see it. How much something affects me is ultimately up to me.

Since then, I’ve learned to find beauty even in chaos. Resilience is about finding meaning and grace in whatever happens. So now, when challenges arise, I don’t just see them as obstacles to overcome. I see them as opportunities to discover something that makes it all feel worth it. Every experience has something to teach me, and because of that, the good moments are that much more meaningful.

Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?

I’m a patina artist and leather craftsman based in New York since 2019, originally from Korea and France. I create custom, made-to-order leathers for designers and collaborate with fashion brands on limited capsule collections.

Patina is all about enhancing leather with pigments and finishes that evolve over time, giving each piece its own depth and character. Everything I make is hand-dyed, and I’ve been lucky to work with talented artists on unique projects, while also designing my own creations.

I first discovered this craft while working for a footwear company in Paris. When the opportunity to move to New York arose, I decided to take a leap and opened a studio in Midtown. My English was pretty limited at the time, so I learned a few phrases to get by with customers. Looking back now, it’s funny to see how much I’ve grown from those early days.

Then the pandemic hit, and everything changed. I had to decide whether to go back to France or stay in New York and keep going. I chose to stay, even though it wasn’t easy. During lockdown, I spent a lot of time experimenting with pigments and chemicals that weren’t commonly used in patina. That period of trial and error helped me develop the unique finishes I use today.

When the city started reopening, I reached out to people in the Garment District and slowly started getting noticed. Over time, I’ve been able to collaborate with some amazing dress shoe brands and creatives, both in New York and abroad.

Right now, I’m focusing on growing my craft and working with a close friend to build a leather design studio and a small leather goods factory here in New York. We hope to create something meaningful and lasting for the future.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

Looking back, I think the three things that have really shaped my journey are being ready for things to change, working with others, and staying curious.

First, I’ve learned to expect that things won’t always go as planned, and that’s been key for me. When you expect the unexpected, you don’t get thrown off guard as easily. I used to get frustrated when things went wrong, but now I’ve realized that it’s just part of the process. Staying calm and figuring out the next step is what keeps me moving forward.

Then, working with others has made a huge difference. When you’re creating with people, the ideas that come up wouldn’t have happened if you were on your own. It’s more than just about making great work. it’s about the energy we share. When I’m feeling stuck or low, they help me push through. And when they need support, I’m there for them. That balance of creativity and motivation has kept me going through the tough moments.

Lastly, being curious has been a big one for me. It’s easy to get locked into your own way of doing things, but I’ve found so much value in looking outside of my own world for inspiration. Whether it’s listening to a podcast or exploring something completely different, I’ve learned that good ideas can come from anywhere. Staying curious and open to new perspectives has made my work so much richer.

For anyone starting out, I’d say, expect things to go sideways and be ready to adapt, find people you can create with and lean on when you need it, and never stop exploring. You never know where the next idea might come from.

What do you do when you feel overwhelmed? Any advice or strategies?

When I start to feel overwhelmed, I first take a moment to acknowledge the stress. After that, I focus on how to move forward. I break tasks down into smaller, more manageable steps. For example, I start my day by doing something simple, like making my bed, which immediately gives me a small win. From there, I move on to bigger tasks, like finishing a new piece or meeting with a client. By the end of the day, I can see that I’ve made progress.

I’ve also learned the importance of staying organized and adapting my workflow. I make daily to-do lists and set weekly goals, often using Excel to stay on top of things. One thing I’ve realized is that if I don’t finish everything on my list, I can feel discouraged. So, I try not to overload myself with too many tasks. On the flip side, when I finish an order ahead of time, it gives me a nice boost and tricks my brain into feeling accomplished.

On top of staying organized, physical training like jiu-jitsu and MMA has been a great reset for me. It clears my mind and afterward I often experience a flow state where ideas come naturally and I can think more clearly.

Managing overwhelm is something I’m always refining. It’s a continuous process of learning how to stay grounded and manage stress better.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @hancore

Image Credits

Alouane Saïd-Ruspoli