Congrats to modjūl
Posted on March 17, 2023
Press Release
Newfoundland and Labrador Craft Business Wins 2023 Atlantic Canada Craft Award for Excellence in Product Design
modjūl – Stephen Brown
The Excellence in Product Design Award recognizes an individual or individuals who have demonstrated outstanding quality and creativity in the design of a product in Atlantic Canada.
modjūl was nominated by the Craft Council of Newfoundland and Labrador.
Stephen Brown dove headfirst into the world of leathercraft in 2016 and has been creating his beautiful line of leatherwork from the Quidi Vidi Village Artisan Studios in St. John’s since 2017.
modjūl is a leather studio offering handbags and accessories using innovative designs and premium materials. Products are designed and made by Stephen and include his signature interlocking or woven joinery – a technique developed by Stephen and adapted from shoemaking – giving his products a distinct and original look.
Adapting shoemaking techniques is one innovation that Stephen employs to make modjūl’s product lines stand out from other leather makers, while staying true to his signature look of classic design.
With a background in engineering and an appreciation for Japanese craft, Stephen focuses on using both traditional and innovative leatherwork techniques to create distinctive designs. Recognizing that leather was once part of a living animal, Stephen utilizes every inch of each hide, even including imperfections that do not damage the overall structural integrity of the end product.
Stephen’s insistence on sustainable and high-quality materials makes his work stand out from the competition. Using vegetable-tanned cow leather that has less impact on the environment, coupled with careful construction, ensures modjūl’s products are made to withstand the test of time.
Atlantic Canada Craft Awards for Excellence is an initiative of Craft Alliance Atlantic (Craft Alliance), a pan-Atlantic trade association representing the craft sector in Atlantic Canada.
The awards were presented during a ceremony held on February 11th, 2023 in Halifax, Nova Scotia as part of the annual CRAFT East Buyers’ Expo.
