PHILIP & GRACE FROM COWRICE STUDIO
Cowrice is the creative duo of Philip Lau and Grace Kwok. Working together for the past 20 years, Grace and Philip work with a variety of different mediums from lino printing to woodwork to photography.
For the past 11 years they have been running a leather workshop together which started life in Hong Kong where they previously lived and worked before moving to Bristol with their two daughters in 2022.
Every product from Cowrice handmade by Philip and Grace in their home studio with materials sourced from the finest tanneries in England and Italy.
Find our curated collection of Cowrice Studio's beautiful handcrafted vegetable tanned leather bags here.
Their designs focus on form and shape with a love for simplicity and details. They create practical items that are made to last.
When they are not working with leather you an find them making artwork with their daughters in the media of block print, calligraphy, painting, needlework, woodwork and storytelling.
Where are you based?
Bristol
Do you have a morning routine / daily ritual before arriving at your studio?
Have a hot tea or coffee, and do gardening, feed the garden birds and cats.
What does a typical day at your studio look like?
Leisure with multitasking projects surrounded by greens and birds singing.
How did your brand / company begin?
We ran a leather workshop called “Fungus Workshop” with another partner for 10 years in Hong Kong. When we relocated to the UK in two years ago, we decided to start with our own brand “Cowrice Studio” and continue with our leather craft.
How would you describe your company ethos?
Simplicity, daily use and life long design.
Where do you source your materials from?
The local tannery J&FJ Baker & Co; Britain’s only remaining traditional oak bark tannery. They used locally-sourced bovine hides which are treated on site over a fifteen month period. They take pride in their sustainable practices, using hides that are locally sourced, by-products of the Devon beef industry that is on their doorstep.
How long does each piece take to make?
It takes 1-3 days to make, depending on the style or size of the product.
How did you fall into your craft?
For leatherwork, we are self taught from following the Japanese craftsman practice. Grace graduated in Clothing Studies in University HK and Philip studied traditional leather shoe making in UK.
How does your design process work from idea to finished product?
Mostly we design bags for our own daily use. We concentrate on the form and size which matches our favourite leather.
What do you listen to or watch while you work?
The Eckhart Tolle podcast and song lists on Spotify selected by our 16 year old daughter.
Who or what inspires you?
Philosophers and Japanese Craftsmanship.
Where did the inspiration for your pieces on the C -et- C website come from?
They are my daily favourites for carrying, very basic in form, durable and easy to use.
How do you overcome creative lulls?
Let it be and do another things which make me happy, like hiking or cycling…
What is your favourite material to work with and why?
Leather, wood and linen fabric. We love natural materials in which we know where it comes from or grows.
Do you have other projects in the pipeline?
Printmaking and woodworking are our favourite mediums to work with since moving to UK.
What are you reading at the moment?
A New Earth > by Eckhart Tolle.
What dream would you still like to fulfil?
To live in the now.
What does a typical weekend look like?
Adventures with my 7 years old daughter, they always make me feel young and energetic.
Do you have any tips you'd like to share with other artists?
Do what you like to do with passion, and not to please the audience.
Find our curated collection of Cowrice Studio's beautiful handcrafted vegetable tanned leather bags here.
