The connection between motorsport and the arts if often overlooked, but at the 2021 Custom Show Emirates, we came across someone that exemplifies using custom and handmade craftsmanship to beautify the roads, namely through custom motorcycle accessories.
Meet Ute Jaeckel the professional leather carver from Hamburg, Germany and founder of Buckanear Design, her own company she has been running herself every day for the past 31 years since she started it in 1990.
Ute has been riding motorcycles, especially Harley's, for the past 40 plus years. This passion for riding has certainly influenced the work she does now. This is because riders needed a range of accessories to go with their bike.
"Most of the work I do is in the motorcycle field. People needed stuff for the motorcycles like bags, tank covers, tool rolls. That all used to be made out of leather 30 to 40 years ago," Jaeckel explains. "So I'm keeping a lost trade alive," she adds.
Ute uses leather carving as a means of self-expression, but she also goes beyond that in ensuring it is functional and practical for bikers.
"I could combine my art with something that you can use. So it's not just a bag that you're buying from me, it's a piece of art. You can buy many factory made leather bags that are very generic or you can come to me for a custom made one."
Ute is also renowned for her motorcycle seats, wallets, belts, book covers, tank covers and horn covers.
"Anything you can think of, I can do it," Jaeckel adds.
Ute credits her years of travel throughout the world for her creativity in customizing pieces for for each unique customer.
"A biker has to travel the world. You have to ride long stretches. It's where I get my ideas from. Travel always widens your world."
The UAE is one of the places she visited that gave Ute a new outlook in life. This new outlook was inspired by the traditional architecture, sense of community in the motorcycle culture and how resilient the young nation is.
"When I first came here a couple of years ago, it was a totally different way of looking at things because people here are very much into ornaments in their work, which is really cool. I observe these features, they stay in my head a little while and then new ideas come out through my hands and in my work."
"It was really love at first sight. People here love to laugh. And that's what we like too. We made some really cool friends here and what I really admire is how everyone makes it seem that impossible is possible."
For Ute, keeping an old and novel trade alive is reflected from the method she uses to create her art.
"My favorite material to work with is leather because the leather I use is vegetable tanned, which is the old way of tanning leather."
Tanning itself is known as the art of converting animal hides or skins into leather. This also allows for the material to become more durable and less susceptible to composition.
"That leather really lives with you. You can shape it, bend it, make structures, and it will stay like that. Just like you get older and start growing grey hairs, the leather will show signs of aging through spots but it won't break. It's a very long living material."
Ute is not only gifted in creating high quality, one-of-a-kind leather items but also in understanding exactly what a customer wants, even if they are remote.
"I have clients all over the world including the UAE, Kuwait, Oman, in Austria and in the US so they can't come to my studio but we can talk on the phone and I can - this is sort of a gift I have - I can sort of hear what they want. I then make sketches, work around their idea and make something that is just personal for them."
Ute's work has also attracted the likes of high profile and creative clients, namely Willie G. Davidson, the former senior Vice President and chief styling officer at the American motorcycle manufacturer Harley Davidson.
"Having Willie G. Davidson as a client made me most proud. When he ordered from me, he was the head of the design department of Harley Davidson. He ordered something from me and I didn't know what to say. That really is cool."
German former racing driver, Ralf Schumacher was also one of Ute' renowned clients who ordered a seat, a rifle bag, a traveling bag and some wallets. Famous German actors and musicians have also ordered Ute's art.
And although Ute's clients come from different parts of the world, the same applies for her artistic and imaginative style.
"There is a long history of dragons and magicians in Europe depicted in fairytales. People say 'these are just fictional stories'. But they are cool stories. It's imagination. So, I started doing structures in leather - which is just cowhide- but this is how I imagine the dragon's skin. I do have a piece of dragon skin and you can have that too."
Imagination and quality aren't strangers at Buckanear Design. Aside from creating cool concepts inspired by culture and history, Ute ensures the highest quality in her work.
"The carving part is the fun part. You have to sow it all together by hand most the time. I do that myself most of the time to ensure the right quality is in it. The craftsmanship is very important. I can't just glue something that looks cool together. The whole process is art; the craft side and the design side."
Contact @buckanear on Instagram or visit their website, www.buckanear-design.com to view or make an order for Ute's handmade and custom leather goods.
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