We recently connected with Courtney Phillips and have shared our conversation below.
Courtney, looking forward to learning from your journey. You’ve got an amazing story and before we dive into that, let’s start with an important building block. Where do you get your work ethic from?
My work ethic has developed over time with age and mentoring. My dad was an entrepreneur so starting at a young age I was looped in on tasks to help him with various projects. I learned that working to the best of my ability was an honorable thing. I’ve worked many jobs and have observed what wise and unwise business looks like. Basic principles I live by now are to try my best to honor and love others, so in work settings that looks like basic respect for people: be kind and professional, communicate clearly, have fair expectations, and deliver what you say you promise.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
I design and create custom leather goods for individuals. My business is called Harkin because I wanted to create a brand in fashion that harkened back to a time when natural materials were sourced from one’s community for the thriving of a circulating local economy. I am located in Cleveland, Ohio and I source my leather from Pergamena in New York. Through this tannery I am able to get traceable leather, which means I can trace each hide back to the farm the animal was raised on, which are regenerative farms in the border states around me. I feel passionate about celebrating where my materials come from and knowing the hands that have provided them. Once I receive the material, I feel a responsibility to continue to handle it with honor. Conceptualizing my actual designs takes a lot of time and thought. I am often construction-motivated and like to think of new ways to assemble a design. When it comes time to actually sewing the product, I enjoy going slow and hand finishing the seams. This doesn’t only ensure secure construction but it also looks really clean and makes a difference in the end product. This type of construction is something you won’t find in mass production. When my clients receive their products there is little to no mystery in any part of the material or process. I think about circularity and creating as little waste as possible…I am strict on only using vegetable tanned leather because it is toxic free and isn’t causing harm to anybody’s health in the tannery and won’t cause harm to anybody in the future, nor the earth. The client gets to carry on the life of the design knowing the full story it’s already lived.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
Being curious is something I have valued in my journey and I am being more mindful to cultivate. In our digital age with knowledge in our pockets at all times, simply thinking and wondering is an important thing for creative folks. Obviously, to easily access knowledge is a gift, but if I’m only consuming and leaving little room for critical thinking and imagination then I may just repeat everything I see and not create something authentically enchanting. I was able to confidently start my business because I spent years practicing my skills and questioning if it would be possible to start a business in an old fashioned way. I was physically practicing and mentally dreaming for years, not knowing all those years of wonder would lead me to conceptualizing the dream. I also picked up other hobbies. I noticed the more I played with wood and ceramics, the better I got at leather crafting. All three of these crafts somehow play into each other. I don’t think fashion is influenced by fashion; art and fashion is a response to culture. So being well rounded in all sorts of hobbies and topics of interest is invaluable for creating new designs and thinking outside the box. Stay curious, diligently practice your craft, and have other hobbies.
Is there a particular challenge you are currently facing?
It is challenging doing every part of the business myself. Sometimes I get overwhelmed with everything I need to do, but I think this is where setting expectations with the client upfront is the best thing to give me peace of mind. Figuring out when to hire help feels tricky but I’ve started by getting a few hours of office help a month. I’m taking baby steps so growth aligns with my values.
Contact Info:
- Website: harkinstudio.com
- Instagram: @harkin.studio
- Youtube: @harkin.studio
Image Credits
Kogent Studios
