General Questions:
Are you Wright or are you Rede?
My name is Jordan Lee. When I started this business I knew I wanted to be my own boss and work in a creative field, but I wasn't sure doing what. So I named the business Wright and Rede.
Wright means to make things (like a shipwright) and rede means to advise or council.
Rede? Like reed or ready?
Rede like reed.
How can I contact you?
Don't you have a phone?
Yes I do. It sits next to me in my workshop. Generally I'm wearing gloves that are covered in dye or oil and I'll have to look on in frustration because I can't get to your call in time. By emailing me you will give me the opportunity to finish what I'm doing, help the environment (because I won't have to keep using new gloves), and allow me to think of the most satisfactory and intelligent answer to your inquiry I can come up with.
Do you have a studio? Can I see it?
My studio is located in the Heights Rockefeller Building in Cleveland Heights. It is generally not open to the public. I would love to have you come see my space during one of my open studio events or by scheduling an appointment.
Would you like to donate to my charity?
Yes I would! Like most people I like to think of myself as a good person. I do my best to live in a way that agrees with my self image. I am also only one person and the resources I have available are smaller than the demand for charity I would like to fill. As such I take all acceptable charity requests and place them into a raffle which I have an impartial judge draw from blindly. This way I still get to help out and everyone gets a fair chance.
Would you be interested in being on my Podcast/Youtube/Blog?
Yes. I would. Send me an email.
Can I use your images or information on my platform?
If you receive my permission in advance and give proper credit. Otherwise, no.
May I reproduce any of your images?
No. All of my work is my intellectual property and you may not reproduce it without my written permission.
Process
Do you really make all this by hand?
Yep. Every last little stitch, brush mark, and burnished edge all by my hands.
How long does it take to make something?
From start to finish each item takes at least three days. This involves many repeated steps of dyeing, working finish into the leather, and then drying it slowly.
Can you make me something if I send you a picture I found on the internet?
No. If you want a cheap copy of something I'm the wrong guy to ask. I suggest you give your patronage to the individuals who put in the work of designing the item in the first place. If you can't figure out who made it feel free to send me a picture and I'll try to send you in the right direction.
Do you do custom work?
I do not do custom work.
Materials
What is vegetable tanned leather?
Vegetable tanned leather is produced by tanning raw hide in tannins from natural plant matter, like Chestnut and Sumac. It is slightly stiff and generally light tan in color. This type of leather is unique in its ability to accept dye and tooling. It will also develop a rich patina as it ages, becoming softer and darker.
What is currying?
Currying is the step that comes after tanning leather. A tanner would turn raw hide into a side of leather. A currier takes that tanned hide and applies dyes to color it and oils and waxes to give it softness, water resistance, and tensile strength. Often this step is done at the tannery. I do this in my studio so I have more creative control over the final result.
What is a cyanotype?
Cyanotypes have been around since 1842. To make a cyanotype light sensitive iron salts are brushed onto a substrate which is then exposed to sunlight. The UV radiation in sunlight causes a reaction that makes the iron solution turn blue and become insoluble in water. The substrate is then washed. Any areas that were blocked from sunlight will wash out, in essence capturing the shadow of the object that blocked the light. In this case leaves and feathers.
Do I need to worry about my cyanotype fading?
Cyanotypes, like lots of other things, can fade over time if they are stored in direct sunlight. A faded cyanotype can get some of it’s color back if stored in a dark place, but it will never return to its full color. For this reason I don’t recommend hanging your cyanotypes on your sunniest wall.
What is a Giclee print?
A giclee (zhe-clay) is a reproduction of an original piece of artwork that uses specialized inkjet printers, archival inks, and museum quality cotton rag paper.
Where do you buy your leather?
In general I purchase directly from the tannery. There are only two commercial tanneries left in this country producing this type of leather. Many tanneries claim to be domestic but they are only using domestic hide which is then cheaply tanned in South America.
If you are dyeing the leather do I have to worry about it transferring color?
In the leather industry this is called crocking. Just like with a new pair of blue jeans, it is possible (but extremely unlikely and only under pretty specific conditions) to cause the color to migrate. This is a possibility with any dyed leather. Please note that the dye is sealed under a layer of finish. I have never received a complaint about crocking from any of my customers, but in theory it is possible. If you are concerned about crocking avoid conditions that involve heat, friction, or moisture while breaking in your new leather.
My new leather feels kind of stiff. Is this normal?
Yes. Like any type of quality item made from vegetable tan leather, it will start out kind of stiff. Much like an old pair of cowboy boots or a leather baseball mitt, you have to break it in a little. This is actually one of the benefits of veg tan leather as the breaking in process will create an item that is unique to you.
What if I want it to be softer?
Some leather conditioner and a little gentle massage will loosen it up.
Can I get it wet?
I do not recommend getting your leather wet. Veg Tan leather that has gotten wet will dry stiff and a lighter color. If you do get your leather wet work a little conditioner into it and it will loosen up and darken a quite a bit. It will look different than when it was new. That is all part of the aging process.
What do I need to do to take care of my new leather?
I recommend conditioning once every six months. When looking for a conditioner, find one that is free of solvents (which will evaporate thereby sucking important oils from the leather) and petroleum products (which will eventually break down into solvents). A good rule of thumb is to find one that looks like lip balm and not Vaseline.
Here is what I use in the studio: Obenauf’s Heavy Duty LP and Skidmore’s Leather Cream
It looks like my leather is cracking a little.
This can be caused by two different things. A little bit of light cracking along the edges is generally a sign that you are a little overdue on conditioning. With newer leather this might happen along the edges of a bend. It is generally harmless and is part of the aging process. A crack running across the grain is the result of excessive strain. This happens when unbroken in leather is creased or folded under a fair amount of stress. This is equivalent to buying the tightest pair of pants you can fit into and trying out some yoga moves. No matter the quality of the material, they are going to rip under enough stress. As the leather ages and becomes softer this becomes much less likely to occur.
List of Materials & Suppliers