Today we’d like to introduce you to Jeff Bradley.
Hi Jeff, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, you could tell our readers some of your backstory.
My leatherwork journey started with my older brother Mike. He loved horseback riding and had taken to even doing some training. After a back injury and doctor’s orders to take it easy, he took to leatherwork as a hobby and began making saddles. He was always a craftsman, and we and our father Jerry spent much time doing woodworking in the shop together. Knowing I have artistic skills, he frequently suggested that I try out leatherwork, but unfortunately, we never had the chance to do it together. Mike was diagnosed with very aggressive MS in the winter of 2015, and by the summer of 2016, his battle came to an end. When we gathered a few of his belongings to keep in the family, something told me to collect a few of his tools and a few scraps of leather, just in case someone in the family took an interest in it. 2 years later, those items were still sitting in a storage closet. I decided it was time to see what this leatherwork was all about. As many people do nowadays, I took a YouTube University course and started researching. My first project was a holster for a vintage pistol, and of course, it didn’t fit, but I still have it. I remade the holster and some other small items and began showing them to some friends. Within a week, I had a handful of orders, and by the end of the first couple of months, the business was off and running. Since its inception, I now have hundreds of custom straps on tour with bands such as Thomas Rhett, Buddy Guy, Jason Aldean, Keith Urban, Post Malone, Foreigner, and many others.
Would it have been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Starting Two Brothers Leather Works has been a lot of work, but I wouldn’t say a single second was a struggle. I have no choice in this one; it’s in my soul to carry on Mike’s memory. I’ve put nearly every penny back into the business machinery, materials, supplies, patterns, etc. This has come naturally to me, too, and people like what I do. I also really enjoy the education side of this. My father, Jerry, and my mother, Pat, were incredible teachers and supported me as a child, not being afraid to fail, just embracing it, learning from it, and moving on. Leatherwork is such a beautiful skill and craft, and I enjoy taking the time to explain the processes to interested people. Part of my mission with this is to have a space for people to learn and create their work, which is the best part of it.
Thanks – so, what else should our readers know about Two Brothers Leather Works?
I’m the owner and sole maker of what comes out of my business, although I need to change that soon! We specialize in high-end Guitar Straps, but I make everything from Bags, Hats, Belts, Holsters, shoes, and other items. What sets me apart is that I’m also a musician significantly linked to the touring and local music scene. I have spent a lot of time with the backstage techs, crews, and musicians, so my approach to everything I build is that it must be quality. It must perform night after night and be designed and constructed with that rigor in mind as the priority. What I’m most proud of through all this has nothing to do with me or my business. The more I spread my work around the music scene, the more I find that there are still some incredibly kind and awesome people in this world. Music especially, but it could be said about any art form, is meant to challenge you, touch you, remind you of something you love or encourage you to find something new. That’s what I want from my work: to mean something, to last for generations, and to build stories around.
How do you define success?
The Callback. There is nothing more gratifying than when I see “Nashville” show up on my phone. I always take those calls. And when it’s someone on the other end who has seen my work and asked me to create something for them, especially for someone personal like a spouse or child, I can’t describe that. I have several touring celebrities that call around Christmas and order custom pieces, and the fact that not only have they chosen my work to represent that sentiment, but they know and trust that they can reach out to me directly that’s been my life’s work.
Pricing:
- Straps – $200-800
- Hats – $100-400
- Bags – $200-1500
- Wallets – $100-300
- Shoes – $200+
Contact Info:
- Website: www.twobrothersleather.com
- Instagram: @twobrothersleatherworks
- Facebook: @twobrothersleatherworks
Image Credits
Kenny Williamson
