Meet Elliot Wills-Begley | Leatherworker, English Teacher, Windsurfer, and Musician

We had the good fortune of connecting with Elliot Wills-Begley and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Elliot, what led you to pursuing a creative path professionally?
I was lucky to be born into an incredibly creative family. My father is an architect, and my mother is a designer and painter. Both of my brothers pursued careers in the arts. Initially, I took a different path, becoming an English teacher in Ann Arbor Public Schools. While I still love working with children, I knew that I also needed to work with my hands. I wanted to create things, design products, and set up a workshop of my own.

I had experience in woodworking, but since so many of my friends are woodworkers, I felt the need to do something different, to find a craft that was unique to me, and represented my tastes, styles, and ambitions.

To this day, the feeling of pride that I get from creating a custom project for my clients is main thing that keeps me going. Although they don’t see the hours of designing, modifying, cutting, and stitching that goes into each project, the care and attention to detail is evident. I also love knowing that the products I make are put to use every day, and that they serve a purpose to the people that buy them.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
We live in a world where so many things are built to be replaced as often as possible. Sometimes, it feels as though we’ve forgotten the impact that quality, handmade products can have on our lives and the environment. While it’s easy, cheap, and fast to order throw-away products online, there is a certain kind of joy knowing that a craftsman is working on a project just for you.

Getting started, I faced a number of challenges. Since I’d never started a business before, I was clueless about things like pricing, time management, and records keeping. However, as I learned more about the craft, I also learned more about running a business.

One of the biggest lessons that I learned is that in order to build a brand, you need to make decisions about what you can do, and what you actually want to do. Although it is never fun to turn down a project, doing so allows you to focus on the things that you really enjoy making. At the same time, it also allows you to refine your style, as well as your brand’s identity.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
One of my favorite things to do is host people at my home in Ypsilanti. There are so many fantastic restaurants, shops, and parks. Since I love to cook, making food with people is one of my favorite ways to spend time with people. However, when we go out, I love taking people to places like Bellflower, Powell’s Pub, The Regal Beagle, and Wax Bar. If people really want a taste for the area, it is so easy to fill an afternoon at shops like Salt City Antiques, and then drive the short distance to Detroit to watch a Red Wings game.

On a Sunday, the best thing to do is head to one of the many nature preserves like Cherry Hill or LeFurge.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I would not be where I am today without the influence and mentorship provided by my grandfather, Warren Wills. He is the reason that my business is called Wills Leather. As a kid, he kept my brothers and I busy tinkering in his workshop. He taught me to respect the creative process, and recognize that everything you make is an opportunity to learn. His attention to detail was meticulous. And while he never claimed to be a master of his craft, the things he made were simple, beautiful, and useful.

Additionally, when I was beginning to launch Wills Leather, my friends, family, and local community were a huge asset. From helping me to photograph my work to building an online presence, to helping to define the identity of my brand, their input and support was crucial.

Website: www.willsleather.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/willsleather

Other: [email protected]