The Leather Trail: Tanner Leatherstein’s Global Journey to Fame

Handbag Designer 101

Let's set off on a captivating journey with Volkan Yilmaz, AKA, “Tanner Leatherstein,” a self-made brand founded on the ancient art of leather tanning. Today, we engage in an enthralling conversation that leads us from the ancient Troy region of Çanakkale in Turkey, across continents to the bustling cities of the United States. We're about to uncover how Tanner, rose from running his father's tannery to becoming the mind behind the successful Pagai brand, and Tiktok celebrity.

Life has been an adventure for Tanner, beginning with his family's move to Turkmenistan to operate a tannery, then to Armenia, followed by an unexpected stint as a cab driver in Chicago. With a surprising win in a green card lottery, Tanner found himself studying for an MBA in the US, a move that was fraught with language barriers and culture shock, yet proved to be the stepping stone to his success. Hear about his intriguing journey, how he honed his leather craftsmanship skills via Youtube on Etsy, and the birth of this “Aha” social media moment of deconstructing name-brand leather bags for everyone to watch and learn.

As we journey deeper into Tanner's world, he generously shares his experiences and insights into the realm of luxury brands and artisanal craftsmanship. Tanner's intriguing revelations about industry secrets, his admiration for brands like Hermes and Bottega, and his mission to educate about leather are not just gripping but invaluable to anyone interested in handbag design and entrepreneurship. So tighten your seatbelts as we embark on this gripping exploration of Tanner's incredible story, from leather tanneries in Turkey to luxury handbag design in Texas.
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