post 19

[a little calm music]

just a quick break from finals studying... [almost done...friday]

continuing my asia trip, in taipei's east district [東區], i found this really awesome shop,
figure 21
its a hand made leather shop, reasonably priced.

the name plays off the phrase "figure to one," showing that all of their items are one of a kind
and technically 'limited edition'

we talked to the owner for a bit, darren hsieh [謝政倫], taking him away from his corner full of skinned leathers with countless tools and his cup of coffee [at around 5 in the afternoon].
he was super awesome and explained the story of his store and posed for a picture.
his store was created in 2006 after hsieh left his job in advertising to follow his passion of leather-crafting.
his store holds his leather goods as well as furniture plucked from dumpsters and objects from his childhood creating almost something from a japanese zakka catalog.

anything from small bookmarks, journals, bags, belts, keychains, and designs of their own,
the shop has a kind of authenticity, which,
[i'm just going to say it] can be hard to come along in asia.  everything is made right there in the shop!

heres the link to the chinese review

[how awesome is this shot i got with some random cat?]