AFTER EXPERIENCING THE CULTURE, BEAUTY, PASSION, AND PROCESS WITHIN HANDMADE GOODS OF SOUTHEAST ASIA WHILE TRAVELING IN 2009 I BEGAN TO EXPLORE BECOMING A MAKER. I TAUGHT MYSELF TO SEW HOME GOODS, CLOTHING, AND HANDBAGS WHICH LED ME TO WHERE I AM TODAY - FOUNDER OF BOLT WEST AND RELISHING THE EXPERIENCE. IN THE PROJECTS I PURSUE NOW, I INCORPORATE DIFFERENT TEXTILES FROM MY TRAVELS TO SHOWCASE THE STUNNING CRAFTSMANSHIP AND TRADITIONAL CULTURE . I STRIVE TO MAKE EVERYDAY TRAVEL ACCESSORIES THAT ARE UNIQUE AND CARRY A SENSE OF THE WORLD WITH THEM. I ENJOY LEARNING ABOUT DIFFERENT CULTURES AND THEIR TRADITIONAL WEAVING PROCESS BEHIND THE TEXTILES. WITH HANDMADE ITEMS, I LOVE TO TEACH CUSTOMERS THE VALUE IN EACH PIECE AND HOPE THEY EMBRACE THE DIFFERENCES WITHIN THEM. I STRIVE TO EXPLORE THE WORLD WHILE LEARNING THE TEXTILE WEAVING PROCESS WITHIN DIFFERENT CULTURES AND PROVIDE YOU WITH THE KNOWLEDGE AND STORIES BEHIND MY EXPERIENCES. I SUPPORT SMALL BUSINESSES AND THE SLOW FASHION MOVEMENT - CREATING AND BUYING ITEMS FOR QUALITY AND LONGEVITY WHILE PROMOTING TRANSPARENCY, SLOWER PRODUCTION, FAIR WAGES, LOWERING CARBON FOOTPRINTS, AND EDUCATING CONSUMERS ABOUT THE CRAFT IN HOPES TO CREATE AN UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT IT TAKES TO PRODUCE A WELL-MADE ITEM. I AM INTERESTED IN PARTNERING WITH TEXTILE ARTISANS AND COOPERATIVES AROUND THE WORLD TO SHOWCASE THEIR WORK WITHIN MY ACCESSORIES, ALL WHILE BEING INSPIRED BY HERITAGE, COLORS, TEXTURE, ADVENTURE, HISTORY, SYMBOLISM, AND THE WEAVING PROCESS! 

- PAIGE A LEICHTNAM -