Leathergenix is a custom leather printing and design business based in Commerce. They offer leather printing to a variety of clients using founder Mychael Darwin’s leather printing technique. Founders Mychael Darwin and Yasmeen Muqtasid took time to meet with us to celebrate their business's new status as an EmployABILITY Champion and share what that means to them.
When you tell people what your business does or provides, what do you say?
We provide high-end, luxury leather printing for the fashion and interior design industries. We also collaborate with artists to put their art on leather. Mychael is the inventor of the printing process we use; he’s the creative one.
Now that our process is gaining popularity, we’ve heard from famous clothing designers who want to work with us on their products. We’ve worked with celebrities to make custom leather jackets, as well as home, auto and private jet interiors. We try hard to fulfill whatever request comes our way, even if that means learning new technologies or creative processes.
What does the future look like for your business?
The sky’s the limit for our future! This grant opens the door to really expanding our business and branching out in lots of new ways. Long-term, we want to create an innovation lab -- a maker space that focuses on fashion meeting technology. We’re really excited about how AI can be used in the creative process. The innovation lab would be available to everyone and outreach to underserved and marginalized groups, so they can learn about the textile and clothing industries. Now that much of the machinery is totally automated, like a laser cutter for fabrics, it opens opportunities for people with disabilities.
What does it mean to you to be a recipient of this grant, an EmployABILITY Champion?
It’s the opportunity of a lifetime! Coming from a historically marginalized background, we understand the importance of opportunity meeting preparation. This grant gives us the ability to expand our business and to create career opportunities for smart deserving people from a myriad of backgrounds and communities, all while seizing new creative opportunities.
For more information on Leathergenix, visit https://leathergenix.com/.
