OTZI Design Studio makes functional, beautiful leather objects that get better with time. 180 The Store is one of the few stockists in the US.
Otis Ingrams in the OTZI studio, photographed by Paul Read
Visit our store in Tribeca and you’ll notice, upon entering, a serene nook flooded with sunlight, grounded with streamlined yet organic leather and wood furniture. Like everything else in our space, you can purchase these pieces of extraordinary design, the work of OTZI Design Studio.
The studio in Norfolk, England is led by founder and designer Otis Ingrams. During a recent chat with us, we discussed his appreciation for American design, the surprising sustainability of leather, and more.
Learning About Leather
As an English literature student, Otis didn’t foresee his future as a master craftsman. It was during a foreign exchange program in San Francisco that he discovered American leatherworking and was captivated. “I want to do that,” he thought.
Returning to England, Otis apprenticed for a year at the studio of Bill Amberg, a renowned maker of bespoke leather interiors. “Bill uses leather in an architectural way,” explains Otis, “and is part of the reperception of leather as something not just for fashion.” This experience defined Otis’s approach to leather. “I’m informed by what the material can do,” he notes. “I like getting the structure out of the material because it’s not often used like that.”
After his apprenticeship, Otis worked alone, building a reputation for taking on difficult custom interior and prototype projects that other makers were not equipped to do. By the time he established OTZI Design Studio in 2013, he’d defined a distinctive aesthetic — functional, mid-century-inspired design showcasing the highest quality leathers and native hardwoods.
Saddle stitching with twisted linen thread coated in beeswax
Breaking the Rules
It has been said that you need to know the rules in order to break them. This aphorism rings true for Otis. As a British native, he acknowledges that local craft is steeped in tradition and heritage. It’s why his formative time in San Francisco was so revelatory.
“The British and European mentality is to institutionalize the craft,” he says. “We have old guilds which have a very narrow practice. It’s really well done, but it doesn’t evolve. The attraction of American design is the pioneering spirit, the fearlessness. Because there’s no ingrained tradition, objects are created on a needs basis.”
Antique French head knives and Japanese chisel knives used in traditional leatherwork and saddlery
He continues, “It’s good to learn traditional technique. We practice those techniques and find the enduring aspect, then we lose the overwrought aesthetic. It’s simplicity done well. There’s a humbleness to it.”
Functional and Beautiful
A timeless quality is evident in every piece of luxury furniture handcrafted at the OTZI studio. The Camber Armchair, for instance, draws influence from modern Scandinavian and Brazilian furniture design — minimalist form and organic materials. The Mochi Easy Chair is another epitome of OTZIi design — functional, comfortable, and at home in a range of environments.
“We chose these pieces for 180 The Store due to their versatility,” notes Otis. “The shearling Mochi chair can go anywhere and it will sit well, which is really important in a city environment. It could work in a brownstone or modern high-rise. Put it in an earthy interior and it will pop, or add a calm gravitas to a ritzy place.”
Mochi Easy Chair in wood, leather, and shearling
Enduring and Sustainable
Because OTZI pieces are made with only the best quality materials, they improve over time. The unique patina of life emerges, reflecting the character of the owner. Full grain leather evolves beautifully, burnishing in spots of frequent wear and developing an antiqued lived-in feel that becomes part of the piece.
“We don’t use leathers with an acrylic finish, which is often used in furniture and fashion,” says Otis. “It ages badly. Ours are dyed all the way through so if you scratch them they still look good. Most people haven’t experienced this level of quality full-grain leather.”
He goes on to explain that the best leathers come from pasture-reared animals that are well-cared for. “German alpine cows have great hides, and have a great life,” notes Otis. “We also use wild deer suedes from estates around the UK where they are rewilding the deer. The meat is used for restaurants. It takes more energy to get rid of a hide than to tan it and use it. The fact is, people are eating more meat, so there is more leather around. It should be used.”
Which brings us to the inherent sustainability of OTZI pieces. “Leather has been a useful material for many thousands of years,” Otis points out. “It endures because it’s sustainable — it lasts five decades or more. And it’s a byproduct, so you don’t have to make it. Once you start using pieces like these, it’s nice to know you’ll have them for a long time because they’re an investment.”