ATOM LEATHER: Where 1988 Bucharest Craft Meets 3D Architectural Innovation
ATOM Leather is our Etsy shop dedicated exclusively to finished leather pieces, sculptural bags, and objects. Our sister shop, VasileAndPavel, is home to our leathercraft patterns and other creations from our family workshop.
We are a father-and-son leather atelier based in Bucharest, Romania, combining decades of traditional leathercraft knowledge with contemporary design and digital fabrication.
Our story begins in 1988, when Vasile Vasilache, known professionally as Vasile Breslasu, began working with leather. Over the decades, he has developed extensive experience in traditional leatherworking, creating bags, accessories, functional objects, and custom pieces.
Today, Vasile works alongside his son, Pavel Vasilache, bringing together two complementary approaches to craft.
Vasile brings decades of hands-on leatherworking experience and a deep understanding of traditional construction techniques, ensuring that each piece is carefully made and designed to last.
Pavel combines this heritage with contemporary design, 3D modeling, and digital fabrication, exploring new ways of shaping leather into sculptural and architectural forms.
Together, we create pieces that sit at the intersection of traditional craftsmanship, engineering, and design.
Craft Meets Technology
Some of our work is created using a meticulous wet-forming process in which vegetable-tanned leather is shaped over custom 3D-printed molds.
This approach allows us to explore precise three-dimensional forms that would be difficult to achieve through traditional methods alone, while preserving the character, material qualities, and hand-finishing of traditional leatherwork.
Every piece is developed and handcrafted in our Bucharest workshop, often in small quantities.
Materials
We work primarily with high-quality leather, including surplus and deadstock hides sourced through suppliers working with Italian tanneries.
Whenever possible, we give existing high-quality materials a new purpose rather than commissioning material specifically for small production runs.
Natural grain, tonal variation, and subtle differences from one hide to another are part of the character of genuine leather and handmade production.
Recognition
Our work has received international attention for its combination of traditional leathercraft, contemporary design, and digital fabrication.
In 2022, our leatherwork was featured in Leather Crafters & Saddlers Journal, a publication dedicated to professional leathercraft and saddlery.
Our workshop is also featured in the Homo Faber Guide by the Michelangelo Foundation, which presents skilled craftspeople and ateliers from across Europe.
Press & Editorial Features
Dazed Magazine — our work has appeared in editorial projects in 2023 and 2024, styled by Image Director Ib Kamara.
Kaltblut Magazine — featured our work in connection with avant-garde accessory design.
Neozone — featured the Dust Angel mask and our use of 3D-molding technology combined with traditional leatherworking.
Homo Faber Guide — Michelangelo Foundation — features the workshop of Vasile and Pavel Vasilache and our approach to contemporary leathercraft.
ATOM Leather
ATOM Leather is where we explore finished leather pieces as objects in their own right, from functional bags to sculptural accessories and experimental forms.
Our sister Etsy shop, VasileAndPavel, focuses on our leathercraft patterns and other creations from our family workshop.
Every ATOM Leather piece is designed and handcrafted by us in Bucharest, Romania.
Vasile & Pavel
ATOM Leather
