Today we’d like to introduce you to Heyltje Bond.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Heyltje. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
From an early age, I didn’t have much choice but to love antiques and the smell of machining oil; it was in my blood. My father was a machinist with a fondness for vintage cars, and my mother was a borderline hoarder who saw value in things that others would discard. Because of this, I spent most of my younger years with my dad in the garage or at car shows and in the depths of antique stores and junkyards with my mom. As I grew older, it was increasingly common for me to either modify or scratch-make items to my liking. Once I graduated high school, I attended Bard College with a major in art history and minor in studio art. Post-college, I found my niche by combining my love for vintage automobiles & motorcycles with antiques, fashion, and lowbrow culture. After seeing a seat on a custom bike that Indian Larry built, I couldn’t resist dabbling in leather. The quality of the tooling by Paul Cox and the well-worn leather grips fueled my desire to learn leather smithing.
Starting off with clothing accessories (belts, cuffs & handbags), I soon graduated to seats and bags for custom motorcycles, eventually expanding my skill set to include casting & metalworking as well. My work can be seen on bikes built by Lock Baker, Indian Larry, Jesse James, Walt Siegl, and Billy Lane. My work has also been featured in Dice Magazine, Vibes, Inked, Elle UK, Marie Claire, and Curve. And some of my recognizable clients include Willie G Davidson, Karen Davidson, Joe Perry, Pat Simmons, Blasko, Jamie Nelson, David Grohl, and Tod Waters. I have also designed limited edition belt buckles for Harley Davidson and accessories for a film short by Alexander Hankoff.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
As a small business owner, I feel it’s never a smooth road. What comes naturally to me is creating. All the other facets of having your own company are individual jobs in and of themselves. I have learned a tremendous amount along the way but it hasn’t always been easy. I developed my brand over a period of ten years on the east coast. When I moved to California five years ago, I had to introduce myself to the scene here & find my niche. It was a little daunting at first but I feel I have adapted quite well. I’ve met some incredible like-minded people in the industry who have been extremely helpful. Another aspect of owning a small business is learning to source some things out as the company grows. It’s hard to let go of the reins but acknowledging that you can’t do everything becomes important. It has been hard for me to determine what things would be most beneficial to have someone take care of but once I sat down and assessed all the layers of my business it became clear.
We’d love to hear more about your work and what you are currently focused on. What else should we know?
I have a foot in both the motorcycle and fashion industry. My brand has evolved over time and now I primarily make accessories in leather and metal. I sometimes include or am inspired by vintage pieces. Everything is handmade and fabricated in house. I pride myself on not taking fashion too seriously. People respond to the irreverence and humor that the accessories project. When I have an idea, I sometimes think to myself, “That’s ridiculous!” and then I know it needs to be brought to reality. Often people see my statement pieces and say they love them but couldn’t pull off wearing them. My hope is that I can convince people that they can embrace what they like without worrying what other people think. I say, “Rock it! Own it!” You can if you choose to. I believe what sets my brand apart is the unapologetic confidence it has. I don’t ‘play it safe.’ I see so many brands that kind of blend into one another because their merchandise is repetitive and without a distinctive character.
Any shoutouts? Who else deserves credit in this story – who has played a meaningful role?
I’ve had a tremendous amount of support and encouragement along the way. First and foremost my family has always believed in me. I remember my mother saying that loving what you do is essential as you dedicate a huge portion of your life to it. That has always stuck with me as well as the de-emphasis on material success that I grew up with. Fellow maker Lock Baker is another proponent of my work. He played a vital role in the birth of my company. We have a similar esthetic & both have a thirst for learning new skills. I am grateful to him as both a teacher and friend. I also have a number of friends who remind me of how far I’ve come when I have doubts. I don’t know what I’d do without fellow entrepreneurs Heidi DeBrincat & Pinky Pancake. Thank you ladies for your constant encouragement!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.heyltjerose.com
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: @heyltjeroseshop
- Facebook: Heyltje Rose Shop
Image Credit:
Victoria Allen, Jonathan White
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