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Susie Laier, Leather Repair Coach
Cafes: Lebanon, East Nassau, Chatham
I had the chance to work next to Susie Laier, a master leather worker, at the recent repair cafe in Chatham. Often leather garments are worked on by erstwhile textile, mechanical or even jewelry repair coaches at cafes, so this was a real treat and I wanted to feature her as Susie is someone special to know about in our network.
Susie started her leather career after working in a boutique in Provincetown, Massachusetts in the summer of 1969. At the time, leather shops were abundant there. She spent all summer talking to shop owners and leather workers and soon opened up her own leather shop, Rumpelstiltskin, in Troy, NY. They specialized in making leather accessories and garments including fringe jackets and vests which were very popular at the time; “everyone wanted one!” She eventually sold the shop and transitioned to selling leather clothing at shows to a new audience—bikers! “I produced leather fashion shows for big biker parties such as AM-JAM, HARLEY RENDEZVOUS and even went to Sturgis, South Dakota, where I sold 800 halter tops in 1986.”
Now retired, Susie also enjoys painting, sketching, writing poetry and gardening. She is also a published short story writer. She started volunteering at repair cafes back in 2021 when Columbia NE Repair Cafe co-organizer Lydia Davis asked her to do leather repair work at the Lebanon repair café, which she really enjoyed. “I love meeting and helping people. I get a kick out of how just putting a simple hole in someone’s belt can make them so happy! It’s the simple things in life that sometimes brings the most joy!”
Her involvement with the cafes also inspired her to do more on the climate front. She joined Lydia on the Climate Smart Committee of East Nassau and then helped start a climate group in her hometown of Stephentown which has since been designated a Clean Energy Community. She also volunteers for Indivisible Stephentown and is a member of the Stephentown Democratic Committee.
Susie says she will fix any leather garment or accessory other than footwear. If you want to reach her, you can do so at susie.laier@icloud.com.
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