At a young age, I knew I wanted to be an artist for the rest of my life; there was a fire inside me wanting to make as much art as I could in this life I was given. It wasn't until 2018, when I bought my first leathercraft kit, that I knew I had found my true calling. From that day on, I have dedicated myself to my craft, where countless hours have been spent learning, connecting with people, and building my brand, which is now Western Element Leather.
There are truly no words to describe how making leather items for cowboys and cowgirls, outdoorsmen, western enthusiasts, and others, has made my soul feel. When I think of the West, I think of freedom, wildness, and endless possibilities. With every leather piece I make, I do my best to preserve history, using classic leather crafting methods. Whether it is the tooling style I use, the silver conchos, saddle knots, braiding or buckskin fringe I hand-cut, I make sure to keep those elements alive in a modern world.
Throughout history, leather and hides have been used to clothe, create saddles and bags, make shoes, make belts, and other essential items, and being able to keep those traditions alive truly makes me feel like I am fulfilling a purpose. I know how important it is for equestrians and outdoorsmen to have high quality products for themselves and their horses, so I strive to make my items last lifetimes!
I have met so many wonderful people in the Western world, both in person and through social media. This allows me to feel such a deep connection with their stories and their passions of hard work, the West, and its elements.
It is essential for history to be preserved and for the equestrian, agricultural, and outdoor enthusiast community to connect to help preserve tradition together. I hope I can continue to make a difference with Western Element Leather for years to come, and continue to make lasting connections with all the amazing cowgirls and cowboys out there who help make my business so purposeful!
Cynthia Duplat
WesternElementLeather.com