Now don't get me wrong, I absolutely love having my own business. Sure, I work every single day without question from the moment I wake to the moment I put down my book at night and turn the light off.
But that suits me just fine, I love helping people, the craft and getting to do what excites me.
BUT...
If there was one job that would tempt me away from self employment, it would be working in the bespoke trunk department at Louis Vuitton at Asnières-sur-Seine in the northwestern suburbs of Paris.
Imagine yourself walking into work everyday, being greeted by the unmistakable smell of wood, sheet canvas and leather. Sitting down by your workbench and getting your tools ready for the day ahead.
That would get you up in the morning better than a double espresso! Though no doubt I would have both.
There's nothing quite as satisfying as taking flat, limp materials and transforming them into a large luxury object using quality hardware and time honoured techniques born through pioneering tradition.
So, the question remains, what is your dream job and why?
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My dream job is simply being able to do my leather craft full time. Having my own physical shop next to my workshop.
Sure, I would love to be able to work for Delvaux! But being fully independent and having the creative freedom that comes with working independently is just more appealing to me.
My dream job?
Test pilot for one of the Motogp racing team. Not racer, test pilot. When racing, there are too many variables, you can't take the exact curve you want on every corner, you might be slowed down by a rider before you, etc... But test pilot! Me, alone with my bike on the Tarmac, hitting every corner apex like I want to. Modifying setups, trying new body positions, new cornering techniques, helping improve a bike, aaaaaaah. There is a a feeling when you hit a perfect corner, when you feel your bike dipping as low as it possibly can without crashing, when you stand your bike up after the corner, it is something that is truly indescribable.
Now to my more atteinable dream job. I've had an idea for a while, that I will probaly make happen in the future, but distant not near due to lots of reasons. What I want is to basically start a local "Leather Hub/Space/Training" "school". I say "School" because it will not solely be focused on teaching. There will be two parts in it:
First will be the school. But this will be focused on teaching people who are less fortunate the basics of leatherworking free of charge. The dream is also to have a store where we could sell their products to help them even more. We will take 0 comission on their sales. This will be the financialy "loosing" part of the hub
The second part will be what I call the Hub: workbenches, tools and advanced classes. Any person can come in, sit on a bench, grab tools and work. There will be 2 constraints: the leather they use will have to be purchased from the Hub, and what they make will have to be sold in our store. On these, we will take a comission. We will also be offering photography services, design services, help with this services.
I think you get the idea.
Well that's the dream for someday
"So, the question remains, what is your dream job and why?"
It would be a dream for me to learn in the ateliers of Hermès, to share experiences with the people there, to see how they design their beautiful carrés, and to be introduced to their fine saddlery.
And if you allow me to dream a little more, after some years I would buy a nice maison in the French countryside, would settle my atelier there and would make my own fine articles, while watching my bio vegetables grow in the garden :P
So many dream jobs and so little time. But here are two of a kind. I think I should like to have apprenticed in the shops of George Nakashima and Sam Maloof. My beginnings in craft were with wood, and I miss working that material. Someday perhaps I'll combine wood and leather.