Obsessed with “the art of crafting”

What are you currently obsessed with? 

Lately, I’ve been deeply obsessed with what I would describe as “the art of crafting”. To me, it’s the process of bringing an idea to life through hands-on making, supported by a few tools, of course. This approach translates across a wide range of fields, from pottery to building houses. 

But two particular passions have taken up a meaningful place in both my headspace and personal time: the first is sewing functional accessories and apparel for running and other sports I enjoy – like a hydration vest or bikepacking bags, for example. The second is restoring and modernizing old ’90s mountain bikes, giving them a second life as everyday commuters.

At first glance, they might seem totally unrelated – soft textiles versus solid metal, thread versus chains. But they actually share the same creative rhythm.

It all starts with a spark of an idea, followed by selecting the right materials or components, and then diving into the hands-on process and constant problem-solving to bring that idea to life. And behind every step, there’s always that little voice in the back of my mind figuring out how to make it all work, and not letting go until the project is done.

I’m fascinated by how much you can achieve with just a sewing machine, some materials and trims, and a few focused hours, turning ideas into gear you can actually use. Likewise, I love that with the right parts, a bit of technical know-how, and (a lot of) patience, you can breathe new life into a 30-year-old bike and turn it into the perfect everyday ride.

How did you come across this obsession? Was it a gradual discovery or a sudden realization?

My obsession with sewing began during the final year of my studies. As part of a year-long project, two friends and I set out to design a trail running product we felt was missing from the market. Instead of stopping at benchmarks, sketches, and technical files, we decided to go all the way and build a fully functional prototype. None of us had any sewing experience, so I grabbed a machine, taught myself the basics, and started learning simple pattern-making. I quickly fell in love with the process, and I haven’t stopped sewing since.

The bike building journey, on the other hand, came more gradually. It started with basic repairs on my own bikes, followed by repainting an old frame. That’s when I realized how rewarding it is to breathe new life into a vintage bike, turning it into something fresh, functional and uniquely yours. All it really takes is time, curiosity to learn and a willingness to get your hands dirty.

Do you see this obsession as a passing phase or something that will continue to influence you in the long term?

I’ll admit, I’m someone who gets hooked on new things quickly… but also who gets bored just as fast. Most of the passions I’ve had over the years have been movement-focused, rather than craft-based, probably because of my naturally high-energy personality. Skateboarding, skiing, snowboarding, biking, or more recently, trail running to only quote a few. I love jumping into something new, going deep into research, buying gear, learning the basics, getting decent at it… and then usually moving on to the next discovery.

That said, a few interests have had more staying power, like running. And now, I feel that crafting products I can use in my other passions has the potential to really stick. It’s such a wide and varied space, always offering something new to learn or experiment with, whether that’s a different material, technique, or use case. I get bored doing the same thing twice, but with making gear, each project is different and that keeps it fresh.

As for bike building, I think it’ll be something that comes and goes. One day it’s for a friend, the next it’s because I stumbled across the perfect old frame online. When it comes to bike building, I suspect it will be something sparked by a new project, a friend's request, or a great frame found second-hand. Obsession may not be constant, but will never be too far away.

How does this obsession influence your current projects or creative process?

Crafting isn’t just a side passion, It’s become a core part of how I approach design. 

There’s something incredibly powerful about turning an idea into a physical prototype. It’s where creativity meets reality. It helps me understand construction and limitation, while also helping to clearly communicate design intent.

At On, I integrate hands-on prototyping into every project that allows for it. It serves many purposes: shaping initial concepts, testing functionality, validating patterns and helping bring everyone on board with a clear, tangible vision. It answers questions that sketches and screens simply can’t. And honestly, it’s also the most fun part of my job, there’s nothing quite like seeing an idea take shape with your own hands.

Has this obsession led to any unexpected outcomes or surprises in your projects? Explain. 

Rather than leading to unexpected surprises, I’d say this obsession for crafting has helped prevent them in the product development process. Prototyping and hands-on crafting during the design phase allows us to identify potential challenges early, and get a much clearer understanding of how the final product will work which ultimately leads to smoother and more efficient product development.

One of the most rewarding outcomes has been the opportunity to establish an “accessory school” together with my lead and the rest of the accessories team. In collaboration with one of our manufacturing partners, we created a five-day hands-on course inside the sample room of our bag factory, where we learned all the small little steps behind building a backpack, guided by experts.

Today, crafting and prototyping have become essential parts of our design process. Where prototyping was once a “nice to have”, it’s now recognized across teams as a valuable tool to guide decisions and move projects forward more efficiently.