Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Eleni Colleony. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Eleni , thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today We’d love to have you retell us the story behind how you came up with the idea for your business, I think our audience would really enjoy hearing the backstory.
It happened unexpectedly in Paris. I was wandering through the Louvre Museum bookstore when a book on Japanese tattoo art caught my eye. In that moment, an idea sparked: what if I could bring that intricate beauty of tattoo art to leather? I knew immediately that this wasn’t just a creative challenge – it was an opportunity to merge art with function in a new way, bringing both tattooing and leather craft into a new dimension.
So I rolled up my sleeves, bought my first tattoo equipment, and used every learning resource available online and in libraries to teach myself how to tattoo in the first place. However, very soon I realized that tattooing on leather is nothing like tattooing on skin. Leather is hard and can bend needles; it doesn’t heal, so one wrong move can ruin it, and excess ink that you would normally just wipe off the skin, stains leather permanently. So just learning how to tattoo wouldn’t solve my problem, I needed to find a way to tattoo on leather and this is something that you couldn’t learn from anywhere. I had to figure it out by myself. But that challenge ignited a passion in me. I spent countless hours experimenting with different types of leather, tools, and techniques, and through trial and error, I developed my own method that allowed me to create clean, sharp, and detailed tattoos on leather.
That initial spark in Paris has grown into Studio Eleni Colleony, a one-woman show where every bag and accessory is made to order, reflecting a commitment to quality, creativity, and sustainability. It’s not just about fashion; it’s about crafting pieces that resonate with those who value art, individuality, and true craftsmanship.
Eleni , love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
I’m Eleni, founder, designer and artisan behind Studio Eleni Colleony a small atelier on Long Island NY where I design and handcraft leather bags & accessories. My vision is to create one-of-a-kind, wearable art, luxury pieces that go beyond aesthetics and tell a story. Raised in Greece, with my early life spent in France and now living in the United States, my background has deeply influenced my creative vision and artistic expression. Alongside being a designer, I’m also a painter, which allows me to merge art, fashion and practicality in every design I create.
To be more specific, I transform full-grain, vegetable-tanned leather into very special items – my signature wearable art tattooed leather bags, studded leather bags as well as embroidered and minimalistic designs. In a world flooded with mass-produced fast fashion, I want to offer made-to-order, deeply personal and authentically crafted pieces.
What sets me apart is my unwavering commitment to the principles and values of slow fashion – transparency, sustainability, and uncompromising craftsmanship. And of course my absolutely unique line of tattooed leather pieces – wearable art that you can actually wear every day.
The fact that I’ve built a fulfilling work on my own terms, one that allows me to nurture my creativity, work ethically and with honesty while raising my children – makes me happy. I call it work – not business – because business prioritizes profits, while I do not.
Ultimately, I want my clients to know that every piece I create is a labor of love, crafted with passion and a commitment to excellence that makes each piece truly one-of-a-kind.
Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?
In the early days of my fashion career, when I lived in Paris, I was passionate about designing footwear and dreamed of making my mark in the high-end Parisian fashion scene. I dedicated myself to building a robust portfolio and send it out to the world in hope to be seen. Soon a talent scout for French fashion houses recognized my potential – offering me the opportunity to try my luck with some of France’s renowned fashion brands, but on one condition: that I learn French. Determined, I dove into learning the language. But just as I was poised to launch my journey as a shoe designer in Paris, life took a turn: my husband and I decided to start a family, and suddenly my priorities shifted.
I realized that balancing a dream career with motherhood would require a different approach. To be able to give my children the time and dedication I wanted to give them, I would need flexibility and ability to work on my terms. So I began working toward creating my own, small shoe brand, built on the principles of slow fashion. I invested countless hours into teaching myself the art of handcrafted shoemaking. However, I soon had to admit that crafting shoes by hand, alone , in a small workshop with limited equipment, basically with traditional hand held leather craft tools only – was physically very challenging. Giving up was not an option; I had to adjust, reorganize, and rethink. And so I did. I redirected my efforts towards handbag design.
How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?
I think letting go of footwear design and channeling my efforts towards handbag design illustrates such a pivot very well. I used to believe that shoes were the ultimate fashion symbol that allowed the ultimate artistic expression, little that I knew that by opening myself to new fashion categories would pay off not only practically but also in terms of my artistic fulfillment and expression, as it expanded it into a new exciting dimension. Designing and crafting bags allowed me to work entirely within my small workshop capabilities, using exclusively traditional craftsman’s leather tools, plus it required only one pattern per bag design – unlike shoes, which demanded separate patterns for each size. This shift not only aligned with my needs but also opened the door to exploring a new form of wearable art. My passion for shoes design not only morphed into passion for handbag design but it also grew and strengthened. Every pivot in my career has taught me the value of adapting to life’s changes while staying true to my creative vision.
Today, Studio Eleni Colleony embodies that journey, a one-woman show where every handbag is a unique piece of art, crafted with passion, resilience, and an unwavering commitment to quality. Quality being always a priority, because while the beauty and style is subjective, quality is objective. And because my work reflects me, unless the quality is perfect the piece I am working on will not leave my studio. This is my way of manifesting my values and showing respect and appreciate to my customers.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.studioelenicolleony.com
- Instagram: elenicolleony
- Facebook: Eleni Colleony
- Linkedin: Eleni Colleony
