November 5, 2014
Kertis
Today we’re kicking off our New York Maker Spotlights with Kertis. We are so excited to have Kertis join us again in New York for our Holiday Market on November 15+16!
Kertis is a line of leather goods, accessories, and housewares started by Jessica Kertis Ulrich in 2012. Kertis specializes in hand-painted leather featuring vibrant botanical patterns. Everything is designed and sewn in her studio located in Ridgewood, Queens.
Kertis is inspired by a love of the natural world, a sense of adventure, and nostalgia for times past. Fascinated by early naturalists and explorers and the beautiful illustrations they created to document what they discovered, Jessica began creating the botanical patterns that now appear on her leather goods.
After careful testing of various leathers, color combinations and patterns, Jessica arrived at the collection of goods she currently sells today. Since then, the Kertis collection has expanded exponentially from leather pouches, to jewelry, and now clothing.
A passion for natural history, anthropology, and discovery informs Jessica’s work. Crafted with attention to detail and quality, Jessica looks for unique materials and has an eye for organic textures, geometric patterns, and original prints.
Over the years, Jessica has grown to love the process and the challenge of making goods with her hands. She hand-paints each piece of leather, then treats it with a special finisher before trimming and finally sewing it into a clutch or a pouch.
Just like all well-made things, it takes time, but Jessica has found that sitting by the window spending a few hours painting is one of the best parts of the whole process.
We can’t wait to see Jessica’s new line of Kertis leather goods at our New York Holiday Market at the Metropolitan Pavilion! Be sure to browse her stunning website, and follow her on Twitter and Instagram.
