Check Out Andy Magallon’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Andy Magallon.

Hi Andy, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I’m a third-generation leatherworker. My family’s history in the trade goes back to the 1930s, when my grandfather worked as a shoemaker in Guadalajara, Mexico.

My father continued in the trade and eventually opened a tack and saddle shop. That’s where I was first introduced to leatherworking. I grew up around the shop, learning the materials, tools, and techniques involved in making things by hand.

I’d always had an interest in designing and making leather accessories. I started out making wallets, belts, and bags for myself, and eventually began doing private-label work for other brands. That experience gave me the opportunity to work on different types of products, develop my techniques, and further hone my skills.

Over time, I decided to put more of that experience into building my own line, which became Brigg Leather & Supply.

Today, I design and make leather and canvas goods out of my workshop in East Los Angeles, including wallets, belts, bags, and everyday accessories. My approach is still rooted in the traditional methods I learned growing up, with an emphasis on practical design, quality materials, and craftsmanship.

For me, Brigg is a way to carry on a trade that’s been part of my family for generations while creating something of my own.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
One of my biggest challenges has been finding the balance between working in the shop and running the business.

I’ve spent most of my life working with leather, so the hands-on part comes naturally to me. Whether it’s cutting leather, stitching, or putting together a bag, that’s where I’m most comfortable. But running Brigg involves a lot more than making products.

Managing a small team and keeping production running efficiently has been a learning experience. Finding the right people and training them takes time. A lot of what I know was passed down through my family or learned through years of working in the trade. Teaching someone how to properly cut, stitch, finish edges, or work with different materials takes patience, and I’ve had to learn that myself.

Another challenge has been figuring out how to make our production more efficient. We make everything from small leather accessories to more involved pieces like our canvas and leather bags. Each requires a different amount of time and attention, and finding ways to keep things moving without cutting corners is something I’m constantly working on.

I also have a tendency to get caught up in the details. I can spend more time than I probably should getting something just right, but that’s also part of what I take pride in.

I’m still learning how to balance it all. I want Brigg to continue growing, but I also want to stay involved in the work and maintain the level of craftsmanship that we’ve built the brand around.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I’ve always been drawn to things that are simple, functional, and built to last. I don’t believe in adding details just for the sake of it. Every pocket, stitch, and piece of hardware should have a purpose. I like taking traditional construction methods and applying them to pieces that people can use every day.

We work with full-grain leather, heavy-duty canvas, and solid brass hardware. A lot of attention goes into the construction, from the way a piece is cut and stitched to how the edges are finished by hand. These are details that might go unnoticed by some, but they’re important to me.

When someone picks up a Brigg piece, I want them to notice the quality of the materials and the workmanship that went into making it. There’s a certain feel to something that’s been thoughtfully made, and I think people recognize that.

What I’m most proud of is being able to take the skills and knowledge passed down through my family and put my own direction into the work. There’s also a lot of satisfaction in seeing something we’ve made being used and appreciated. That’s really what it’s about for me.

I’m not trying to reinvent anything. I just want to make honest, well-built goods that people will enjoy using for years to come.

How do you think about luck?
I consider myself fortunate to have grown up around leatherworking and to have learned the trade from my family. Having that knowledge passed down to me gave me a foundation I might not have had otherwise, and it’s something I’ve come to appreciate more as I’ve gotten older.

At the same time, I’ve always believed that to some extent, we make our own luck through hard work and persistence.

I began developing Brigg back in 2018 and 2019, with plans to officially launch in 2020. Then COVID hit, and those plans were put on hold. After spending so much time preparing, it was frustrating to have something completely out of my control change the course of things.

But I kept working at it, developing the products, refining the designs, and moving forward whenever I could. By early 2022, Brigg was up and running, and we had the opportunity to be featured by Iron & Resin, a company I’d worked with for years.

I’ve learned that things don’t always happen on your timeline. Sometimes opportunities come along when you least expect them, and other times you have to work through setbacks you never saw coming.

I believe being fortunate enough to have opportunities is one thing, but what you do with them is what really matters. You have to put in the work.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.briggleather.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brigg_leather_supply/