Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Paige Rimko. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Paige, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Can you talk to us about how you learned to do what you do?

When I was deciding on a major in college, I saw a demonstration on shoemaking and it changed the trajectory of my life—it inspired me to pursue it as my lifelong career.

Growing up, I always loved the arts and knew I wanted it to be part of my every day life. I fell in love with the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) and took as many classes as I could that involved “Accessory Design” (my major). There, I gained a classical training in footwear and bag making by learning from the bottom up.

My experience at SCAD only reinforced my passion for shoemaking. Shortly after graduation, I was accepted into the London College of Fashion for my MA in Footwear Design and Making, which was a very fashion-forward and conceptual program. My graduation was slated for 2021 during the height of COVID, and I graduated from behind my computer screen. This made it especially challenging to practice my craft and build connections during that time. Thanks to my extremely supportive parents, I was offered a dedicated area in their basement to build my own little workshop.

As of today, I have learned so much from just dinking around and by experimenting with new projects in my basement studio that I’ve taken on for clients. I learn a lot by making mistakes and solving problems myself, which is how I learn best. I will often make a few different versions of the same product so I can compare them, and by making various prototypes I can figure a lot more out than by spending too much time going down one single path.

Obviously, I needed a foundation of knowledge before I could do all of this experimenting and that came from the expertise of mentors, whether through my studies, jobs, and Youtube videos. As soon as I would learn something new, I would test that knowledge in my own work.

It is important to remember that not every idea is a win and I think this helps you move forward in your craft and try new things. As far as traditional shoemaking, I feel that having basic sewing knowledge and problem-solving skills are both a huge part of the craft. To start small with something like a wallet or keychain really opens a new world full of opportunity and potential.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your background and context?

As far as my business, I offer a variety of products and services. My core business is in custom footwear and bags. I sell these through my website and by selling at local events. I also do a lot of white labeling for clients which makes up a large portion of my business. This entails small batches of products for other small businesses, which they then sell with their name on them.

Another large part of my business is in custom products. Many people have ideas—whether it’s something they personally envision, or perhaps they had a favorite bag from when they were younger and they want a remake—and they can’t find what they are looking for online or in a store. That’s where I come in. Because I am a small business, I am able to make one-off products and work closely with the customer to get them exactly what they are looking for. Often, I will create something I have never made before, but the customer trusts that I’ll be able to work it out, and it also gives me the chance to learn something new.

One thing that defines my personal style is bold colors and color blocking. I love sourcing bright colored leathers and turning them into new products. I want leather products to be accessible and fun so I try to make something catered to everyone’s personal style. I love to see people light up when they see their favorite color in a product that I make or a fun print that really speaks to them while they are shopping.

Because I work on my own and have no one else working for me, it can sometimes be difficult to know what the best path forward is, but the benefit is I am very flexible and always exploring new opportunities. The value of my work lays in my expertise in a craft that has taken years to learn, in a field that not many people are part of. I rarely say no to a project and love to give new products a go.

How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?

I believe the best way to support creatives is to see them and to respect their work. A lot of people don’t realize how much work goes into even some of the smallest products. Another significant way to express support is by showing up. Whether it’s physically at local shows and events, or simply by engaging on their social media. Finally, if you are hoping to buy something, I encourage people to first seek out a small, independent maker. By taking the time to research and find a smaller business that is producing something you want, it’s much more impactful and meaningful to buy it from someone making it with their own two hands, and it is also incredibly rewarding for the creative person behind it. Even as an artist, when I am not working a show on the weekend, I enjoy visiting other shows where some of my artist friends are displaying their work.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

In footwear and bag making, you can take several different approaches to one single task. Everyone has their own unique process. When I was studying my master’s degree, my professor was teaching patternmaking for footwear. From the very start, she taught a different approach than I had previously experienced. I had to humble myself and learn a completely different technique, which was a great lesson because it taught me that there are different ways to achieve the end goal. This also made me realize how important it is to hear everyone out, because trying a new approach sometimes offers a better path forward—whether it’s because of efficiencies or because it inspires a new creative idea. Those learnings might even translate to a process that becomes part of your normal, everyday practice.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.prim-studio.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/primstudio_/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/p/PRIM-Studio-100084547930021/
• Other: https://www.theknot.com/marketplace/prim-studio-westlake-oh-2104501