Slow in Leather

This decorative piece featuring the character "慢" (Slowness) was created by Zhou Zhou, a longtime collaborator of bogu+. With a background in fashion design, Zhou Zhou later immersed himself in the world of handcrafted leatherwork—a slow, tactile craft that deeply resonates with our values.

To Zhou Zhou, leathercraft is more than a technique—it’s a temperature-bearing art. The process, rooted in ancient nomadic traditions of tanning and stitching hides, embraces slowness at every step. Zhou Zhou works exclusively with natural vegetable-tanned leather, hand-cutting and hand-sewing each piece with an awl and thread. Even a small wallet can take weeks to complete. This dedication to craft, time, and intention is what makes his work so aligned with the bogu+ spirit.

When asked to create a design that encapsulates this philosophy, Zhou Zhou turned to the ancient Chinese script for inspiration. The character “慢” doesn't just speak to the pace of handcrafting—it embodies a way of being. Slowness, in this context, isn’t about delay—it’s about presence, depth, and devotion to process over outcome.

At bogu+, we see “慢” as a quiet rebellion against urgency. It reflects a mindset shaped not only by technique but by humility: learning before creating, imitating before innovating, selecting the right hide, cutting with care, and stitching with rhythm. Every stroke of this artwork speaks to that philosophy. It is a meditation in visual form—a reminder that simplicity, patience, and attention are timeless virtues.