About Karlova Design
Karlova Design specializes in creating digital PDF patterns for hand-stitched leather goods such as bags, backpacks, accessories, home decor, and wearable items including corsets and hats. The brand's core value lies in merging aesthetics with functionality to craft the perfect leather piece that is not only practical for daily use but also eye-catching enough to elicit a "wow" effect. This philosophy results in distinctive, original, and fashionable leatherwork patterns designed to stand out.
Marina Karlova, the designer, has been involved in leatherwork since 2016 and has an extensive background in graphic design dating back to 1998.
She thrives on challenges and is passionate about creating unprecedented leather projects, finding this to be the most thrilling aspect of the arts.
Our goal is for everyone to be capable of crafting exceptional leather pieces and to enjoy the process to the fullest. Our latest patterns are accompanied by video tutorials, and even the written instructions for older designs are detailed and comprehensive. Customer support is always available for any questions or uncertainties during the creation process. We are committed to your satisfaction with your projects and are ready to invest additional time to ensure you achieve a result that you can take pride in.
About the Designer
Hi there, my name is Marina Karlova, I live in Tbilisi, Georgia, and I love designing unique leather creations and make leather patterns for others. I was born in Novosibirsk, Russia in 1981, lived in Moscow 1999 - 2009, in Ecuador 2009 - 2011, in Buenos Aires, Argentina in 2011 - 2014, and in Rio Dulce, Guatemala in 2014 - 2021. Moved to Tbilisi in 2022 and currently live and work in this beautiful city.
They also make awesome wine here.
I started making leather bags and working with leather while I was living on my sailboat in Guatemala. It was a 1977 Bristol 40 and I wasted a lot of money on it. After 7 years I realized that it was too small for my workshop I moved off the boat and became a dirt dweller again. Currently the boat is for sale in Rio Dulce, Guatemala, contact me if you wish to purchase it 😁
Moving more than 100 kg of leather and tools across the Atlantic was fun.
I also have made a video about all this, you can watch it right here:
My Values and Professional Approach
For me, leather pattern design isn't just a business - I can't do something full-time unless I am absolutely passionate about it. For me, this is all about art. I am always looking for original and beautiful solutions for everything, be it a small leather accessory, a wallet, or a large project like the Life Size Mannequin. I've designed a few things that had never existed before (not just a new design of a known bag pattern, but something that Google couldn't find!) and this is the most exciting part.
In my opinion, art can only be approached with pure heart - this is all about joy, inspiration and sincerity. People often tell me that they see something very special in my works - well, I guess this is why.
Even when I decide to make something simple, most of the times it will have something unique about it - be it a new shape, interesting details or different style. Copying stuff that already exists would be an extremely boring business!
I love choosing the most beautiful materials for my prototypes - leather shopping is something I can't live without. Even though I never sell my finished products, I still make sure that the quality is always superb, including such small things as brass hardware.
Customer support is another one of my priorities - people who buy my leather patterns should enjoy their time while crafting and I always try to make sure they'd do. I am always here to help anyone and answer the dumbest of questions without prejudice - everyone has a right to ask a dumb question if this would prevent them from making a serious mistake and wasting expensive materials. Also I never forget that without my customers I would not be able to do this full time!
Team
Bonny (full name is Ebony and Ivory) is the model on the Bonny Dog Bed pictures (and couple of other patterns), she also participates in my video tutorials from time to time. Bonny is from Queretaro, Mexico, she was born in 2016, she traveled a lot, she went to sea, she's been in jail, she would have a lot of stories to tell her grandkids if she had any (but she's a childfree).
Bonny is another the reason I started sewing (she needed tiny dog accessories like harnesses and carriers, now she's got dozens).
Design Awards
I've been designing something most of my life (started in 1998 as a graphic designer) but around 2016 I found out that the most exciting thing to do is to design real things for real life.
Moscow XV International Advertising Festival 2005 (Gold)
Golden Site 2001 (Gold, Silver)
ADCR Awards (Short-list)
British Fashion Festival 2020, 2021 - Best Bag Designer
My Other Hobbies
Music - I compose songs, sing, play guitar, piano, drums, accordion (a little), I have an album, you can listen to my songs on Soundcloud
Fragrances - I use to have a huge collection in Moscow, now I have only 1, because they didn't fit in my suitcase.
Photography - well, this one you can tell, right?
Graphic design - I have created a few fonts, did a little bit of calligraphy and I love designing logos for each of my bag designs.
Cooking - this is another favorite creative activity of mine. I looove good food :)
Wine, beer, cussing like a cobbler (or like a sailor? I have been both! I have finished sailing courses in Buenos Aires and made myself a few pairs of shoes). Btw, I speak English, Russian and Spanish so you can use either of them if you want to cuss ask questions.
If you have read this whole article then maybe you'd even like to follow my personal page on Facebook - here's the link.
