Hanspeter Winklmayr : A Lifetime of Leather Craft Luxury
Hanspeter Winklmayr, affectionately known as HP, hails from a family with a profound legacy in the leather craft industry, extending across multiple generations. Leathercraft has been an enduring family tradition, with its origins traced back to their establishment in 1691. The roots of this lineage can be attributed to Hanspeter’s grandfather, Johann Winklmayr, who started a small business specializing in leather goods in Austria during the early 1900s. This was passed down to Hanspeter’s father, Johann Georg Winklmayr. HP’s brother, Georg, operates the Austrian family business, which has evolved to encompass an opulent array of handcrafted upholstery catering to both automotive and aerospace sectors.
In contrast, HP established his residence in South Africa. In the year 1989, he played a pivotal role in the co-founding of Via La Moda, a successful business renowned for crafting exquisite exotic leather products.
Their collection of bags has achieved global distribution, with customers across various continents. During a particular period, high-end hotels even arranged organized visits, transporting groups of tourists to the showroom, where they departed as satisfied patrons, laden with multiple bags as a testament to their shopping experience.
With the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, HP opted for retirement. However, he soon found himself grappling with a sense of ennui, recognizing his yearning for the gratification derived from working and creating masterpieces. After lockdown, he gathered his dedicated staff, many of whom had trained with him for decades, and established his own leathercraft brand, Winklmayr.
Under his own name, HP continues to create artisanal leather goods by harmoniously merging classical techniques with modern, iconic design but with his family name on the tag. The boundaries are being pushed further to achieve perfection.
The resultant pieces transcend mere utility, embodying a union of aesthetics and practicality, yielding items of remarkable beauty and functionality.
Hanspeter’s unwavering dedication to excellence and his meticulous focus on intricacies resonate throughout every facet of the Winklmayr brand. Each creation embodies a meticulous amalgamation of artistry and precision, from the hand-selected leather to the precise stitching and finishing touches.
Owning an authentic Winklmayr bag translates into a lifetime investment. Every detail and clasp is subjected to scrupulous selection, even necessitating international sourcing if warranted, leaving no room for oversight under the discerning gaze of the master. HP looks like an Einstein in his lab, he stands in his sleeveless white uniform and orchestrates his team from his vantage point, overseeing the symphony of machinery with precision, akin to the gaze of a master absorbed in his craft.
The scene unfolds as a captivating spectacle: every individual engaged in the meticulous process of cutting, measuring, and sewing. Every member of the team is respectful of the craft and HP, knowing that they are contributing to something timeless.
Notably, the bags showcase a distinctive attribute—an interior adorned with leather in specificinstances, while others feature a lining of their signature lime green Sateen from Italy, embellished with the Winklmayr logo. Colour is a big factor in the range, HP chose bright green as the brand colour as green symbolises hope. When you open the bag and see bright green lining, it is HP’s hope to make you smile. For the external, all the colours of your dreams are available.
At the moment, Dossier is obsessed with the tiny bags, it can hold a credit card and lipstick and once you see one, you will want it too.
Despite the tremendous success of his artistry, HP Winklmayr exudes a demeanour of profound humility and an unwavering ardour for his craft. His countenance is consistently adorned with a gentle smile, and he emanates a welcoming warmth that envelops everyone he encounters.
He continues to push the boundaries of leathercraft driven by an unceasing quest for innovation and refinement within his discipline. Quietly and without any fanfare, HP is creating a legacy of excellence while he inspires his workers to become the future generations of leather artisans.
A remarkable aspect lies in HP’s deep-rooted affection for his adopted country, as evidenced by his resolute investment here instead of returning to Austria. It merits acknowledgment that the tremendous privilege bestowed upon South Africa, in harbouring this unparalleled legacy of expertise, often goes underappreciated.
We ask HP a few questions.
Why South Africa, the whole world would have embraced you?
I wanted an adventure, and it paid off.
Where do you find your inspiration?
I love designing for women, and the female form is my inspiration, and how a bag fits their form.
How should your bags be treated for longevity? Is there a trick?
It is simple, have respect for them and love them. Great care has been taken to craft every bag so they deserve respect.
What has been your career highlight?
On a daily basis, when a customer finds and takes home a bag that they love and that we designed and made with care.
I love seeing my designs make people happy.
What do you do in your free time?
I love good food and you can’t go wrong with a glass of South African wine.
