Scottish Leather Group - Muirhead Leather Group (3rd Year) 2018

​Andrew Muirhead Leather (Part of the Scottish Leather Group) are looking to Interior designers to continually re- imagine ways to use leather for existing clients and new audiences. You are invited to submit a concept, which explores the potential of this material, which is resilient, fragrant, tactile and capable of improving with age. In this project you will have a guided tour of the factory, which reveals the various stages and processes required to prepare the leather as well as an insight into existing and emerging markets. Your proposal can be designed for one of the following typologies:- Hotel Travel Residential Detail Your concept should reveal an understanding of the material and demonstrate how it adds value to the Interior in which it is situated. ​ ​ My Leather Concept ​ During one of the talks with Muirhead it was mentioned that they try new ways to advertise and Market their leather hides and that leather is seen as something negative to some people. I came up with the concept that is not necessarily a product that will be made to sell but rather a PR scheme to market and advertise their leather to the public.  Walking along the streets of Glasgow on a day to day basis I see a lot of homeless people that carry their belongings in a supermarket plastic bag, I came up with the idea of creating an interchanging Tote/Backpack that is made up of off-cut leathers (canvas material is in images below due to low supply of leather). The whole idea was that some of the many unused leather pieces from the factory can be used to create a product that helps the community while at the same time marketing Muirhead’s Leather but in a charitable act. When people ask “How will this product enhance an interior?”, as a homeless person they do not have a lot of stuff and I believe that the bag itself which they carry their belongings is in a sense their interior as they keep everything in that bag, so in short the bag acts as a sense of security and home and by enhancing that “interior” it is also helping to enhance their everyday lives.