Today we’d like to introduce you to Andrew Verdon.
Hi Andrew, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I jumped into doing leather work in 2010 when I started Civil War reenacting. As an 18 year old kid I didn’t have much of a budget for all the leather accouterments, so I decided to build some of it myself. I then started an apprenticeship with Fred Healy (owner of LePierre Sutler) and the rest, if you’ll pardon the pun, is history. I now make leather equipment for historical reenactments, cosplayers, day to day wear and even a few indie movie pieces
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Not always, my biggest struggle was keeping up with orders at one point. Over the last eleven years I’ve worked retail and as a FedEx driver so during those times it was difficult balancing an unpredictable schedule and trying to build custom orders in the off hours.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I do custom leather gear, if I had to say I specialized in something in that avenue I’d say it’s historical reproductions. One piece I’m most proud of is a holster I make that I patterned off of the only surviving original from the civil war. I think what sets me apart from others is my ability to think outside of the box at times, I’ve built many pieces that began life as literal sketches on a napkin!
Do you have recommendations for books, apps, blogs, etc?
I love listening to audiobooks! I am actually working through parts of Diane Gabaldon’s Outlander series at the moment, but when it’s not that I’m usually listening to some various historical fiction. As far as podcasts, I really enjoy John Cooper’s Cooper Stuff podcast and various political commentators
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/verdoncustomleather?igsh=MXRpOGJjazk3NnI5ZA%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1GRrVoEsuW/?mibextid=wwXIfr
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@verdoncustomleath?_r=1&_t=ZT-92L4W9FiYY3
