Meet your Maker: Cassie Jones of Cusp
Maker Cassie Jones, 28, of Cusp, a line of leather goods handmade in Brewerytown. Her start Jones studied fiber arts and accessory design at Savannah College of Art and Design, but when she graduated, she wasn't sure what direction she wanted to go in. Then, a few years later, she made a leather clutch wallet for her niece's birthday.
Maker
Cassie Jones, 28, of Cusp, a line of leather goods handmade in Brewerytown.
Her start
Jones studied fiber arts and accessory design at Savannah College of Art and Design, but when she graduated, she wasn't sure what direction she wanted to go in. Then, a few years later, she made a leather clutch wallet for her niece's birthday.
"I never even gave it to her," Jones admitted. "I loved it so much I kept it for myself."
Friends asked for them, so she began making more. To graduate to making handbags would require a major investment: half a cowhide. "I was the epitome of a starving artist, because I was so hungry all the time, and I dropped all the money I had on a huge hide of leather and made my first bag," she said.
The store at the Philadelphia Art Alliance ordered four of them, and they sold quickly. Her business was launched.
Inspiration
Despite her art school education, Jones said she often thinks back to the craft store make-your-own-moccasins kit she had as a kid. The pseudo-Native American purses and shoes she made from those kits were incredibly simple - but also had a handmade, irresistible quality.
"I loved those bags. I have one that I sewed together when I was a kid that I still have today.
"I guess that's my aesthetic. But it also makes things manageable to sell large-scale. The reason my things are affordable is they're super simple designs, they're very direct, and they're easy to sew.
"It's not unique or special. It's just high-quality, and it's never going to fall apart."
Design vision
"I came up with a set of rules, and I always follow those when I'm designing: hard lines, no curves. I want everything to be androgynous or as close to it as possible. And as little hardware as possible: No extra D-rings and rivets and snaps."
After all, extra hardware increases the cost to produce a product and the ultimate price.
"I don't need things to be cheap, but I want them to be logical and affordable," she said.
Social enterprise
One of Jones' best-sellers is her Feed Sack Tote, a simple leather shopping bag. She puts part of each purchase toward donating hay or cash to the Fletcher Street Urban Riding Club, which is working on building a new home for rescued horses in North Philadelphia.
She's donated about $400, plus three carloads of hay, so far. (She also puts her skills to work, repairing saddles for the club.)
"What I like about it is, [the club] really just wants to get the local kids involved and keep them off the street. [They] like the idea of discipline: If you treat a horse right, it will treat you right."
Where to find it
Jones will be at the Trenton Punk Rock Flea Market April 2 and 3. (She's been doing the Philadelphia version since she was 19, selling hand-painted rocks.) Check her website, cuspbycassie.com, or find her wares at Philadelphia Independents and Ritual Ritual in Old City, Art Star in Northern Liberties, and Moon + Arrow in Queen Village.
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