Leatherworks By Arturo - december 3, 2018

416 45th St. Floor 2, Union City, NJ 07087 | leatherworksbyarturo.com | @leatherworksbyarturo

Arturo Jinjinian is the owner of Leatherworks by Arturo in Union City, NJ.  His experience and attention to detail has made Leatherworks the go-to place for manufacturing handbags on the East Coast. Over the past 10 years that I’ve been working with Arturo, he has become a mentor, inspiration and friend. Here is a snapshot of his story – the real person behind the RN bags!

Leatherworks by Arturo has been at the heart of manufacturing “Made In America” handbags for 34 years. They specialize in custom pattens, samples, and small + large production runs. For more information, click on the link above.

RN: How did you first get into manufacturing? 

AJ: My father was a shoemaker in Armenia. He had a small factory with 4-5 workers, where everything was handcrafted. When I was 14, he sent me to work at a handbag factory during the summer. They were friends of his, and it taught me to work hard and to be respectful. I did this for two summers until I was 16, then went to work at a leather tannery the following year. I only made $5.00 a week at the factory, and $10.00 a week working at the tannery.  

RN: In moving to the United States, what made you choose New York City?

AJ:  I had a cousin that worked in the handbag business here.  

RN: When did you open your first factory? 

AJ: I started H + H Briefcase with my partner John in 1984. We manufactured briefcases and structured bags. Then I opened Leatherworks By Arturo in 1989. It was in the same building on 27th street and 7th Ave until 2016. 

RN: How has Leatherworks changed since then?

AJ:  When I first started out, I was manufacturing my own line of bags exclusively for retail stores. That was up until around the time of September 11th, when I started to do contract work for other designers.   

RN: How do you think September 11th changed the city? 

AJ: I think September 11th changed the city a lot. Everything slowed down and many businesses were going bankrupt. The industry changed. People changed. It’s a different city now.

RN: How has the manufacturing industry changed since you started?

AJ: When I first started in this business it was all about quantity, not quality. Everything was selling so cheap. In the beginning, I used to make bags for $3.00 – $4.00 (in labor) each! As manufacturing started shifting overseas, and we were producing less here, quality started to become a lot more important. Now that’s all that matters. When you buy something Made In USA, you are buying something made with quality.  

RN: Why did you move the factory to Union City? 

AJ: I moved because the rents kept going up in NYC. It didn’t make sense to keep it there anymore. I have a much larger space now for less money, which allows me to keep producing quality bags at a reasonable cost.  

RN: What do you like most about what you do? 

AJ: I love creating things. I love manufacturing because it is in my blood. I appreciate perfection and innovation… it is a beautiful business. 

RN: You’ve worked with a lot of small designers along the way, many who have come and gone.  What do you think it takes to be a successful designer today? Do you have any words of advice?

AJ: You really need to know what you are doing. Things cost a lot more now than they did in the past, which makes it harder for designers just starting out. The most important thing is always the sale of the bag. If you can find your own niche and customer following in today’s market, you’ll be ok.  

RN:  What do you think makes an “IT” bag? 

AJ: The right timing + right design.

RN:  How do you think you have survived in this business for so long? 

AJ: By saving in the good times, to make it though the bad. There are a lot of ups and downs in this business and it’s important to look at the big picture.  

RN: Your factory is known for quality workmanship, how do you ensure that is first and foremost?

AJ: By paying attention to details, and taking things slow.  

RN: Where do you see yourself 10 years from now? Where do you see the industry 10 years from now?

AJ: I feel that “Made In USA” is going to keep getting stronger, so I’ll be right here. The industry is going to a good place.