Ely Martínez Moreno

Tainarte

Leatherworker

Leather sculpted and worked in the Spanish tradition

Ely creates and hand stitches leather goods and bags using oiled leather
Her works include traditional bags for truffle hunters and GPS cases for livestock
She creates her own designs, different from pre-existing models and patterns

Ely Martínez Moreno is a self-taught leatherworker whose learning process was driven by her curiosity for leather. In 2009, she obtained her leather goods and bags artisan certification from the Junta de Comunidades de Castilla-La Mancha in Spain, after balancing her craft with her job as a social worker. "Through careful observation and exchanging knowledge with other artisans, I am able to create pieces using traditional leatherworking and braiding techniques," says Ely. She also attended specialised courses run by ArtCuero, a school founded by three artisans with expertise in diverse techniques. "Michael Naudeau introduced me to the world of leather sculpture and modelling, which was completely unknown to me until then. It is a highly versatile technique that allows leather to be shaped and structured without using moulds. I use this technique to create my signature leather leaves," Ely explains.

Interview

How did you start leatherworking?: As a child, I spent my summer holidays obsessively making my own macramé bracelets, and this passion for crafts grew with me. So, the skills were already within me, I just needed a way to share them with the world.
Where did your workshop name Tainarte come from?: Tainarte stems from a personal interest in keeping traditional crafts and forgotten customs alive. In the Serranía de Cuenca, tainás are old shepherds’ shelters found in the mountains. I thought that reviving this term to name my workshop aligned perfectly with my appreciation for craftsmanship and traditional ways of life.
Does the land influence your work?: Yes. In fact, I receive many commissions from shepherds to design GPS cases for their livestock. I even get contacted by truffle farmers, to create Morral Trufero, a traditional truffle-hunting bag, inspired by old models that had been forgotten in storerooms of rural homes.
How do you stitch your pieces?: For me, hand-stitching is like an artisan's handwriting. It is unique and distinct for each individual, and it gives every piece a signature identity that reflects the essence of the workshop and maker.

Ely Martínez Moreno is an expert artisan: she began her career in 2009