Meet the artist: Tina White Cervantes of Hard to Kill Leather
Tina White Cervantes is a badass local leathersmith who has had her work featured in our shop since 2020. Her eclectic, funky pieces feature motifs that feel straight out of the 70’s, fitting right in with us at La Loupe Vintage. We had a chat with her to find out more about the creative force behind Hard To Kill Leather.
Are you originally from San Diego? If not, where do you call home?
Yes, I was born & raised in Oceanside & moved down to Golden HIll in my early 20's. I currently reside in Chula VIsta where I have my home workshop.
How did you get started with your business? Were you introduced to leatherwork by a mentor/friend, or did you notice an interest and pursue that yourself?
I come from a family that works with their hands, so I like to think it's in my blood. My grandma taught me how to cross stitch when I was a young kid. Her mother being a quilt maker, my aunt in Mexico is a wedding dress maker, & my father being a framer in construction. He would gift me tools as a kid by request & I would use those to create out of wood. My mom had a sewing machine at home that I would use that to alter second hand clothing we thrifted. In middle school I had my first pop up along the strand in Oside that my friends' mother put together. I sewed bags from scratch & sold one! (my friend made floral hair pins.) In highschool I chose my senior project to make myself a dress from a flat pattern where I took sewing lessons in town. I eventually gravitated towards heavier duty materials, such as suede, then Veg - Tan leather that I can use as blank canvas and paint/dye the patina myself. It wasn't until my early 20's that I started to create with leather instead of fabric, and that's when HTK began.
How would you describe your brand in 3 words?
Quality, timeless, functional
Who would you love to make a custom piece for, like, who is your ideal client?
An ideal client for me is somebody who gives me plenty of time before the desired due date, has a general concept, but allows me to create my own style & vision for their piece, understanding that it is art at the end of the day. We live in a world where things are bought online, shipped out the next day, & that's what many expectations are. My pieces take time to conceptualize, design, paint, stain, finish & everything in between.
What is your favorite piece that you’ve made so far?
Two years ago I took a month-long course in western bootmaking. That was a very difficult, multistep process. In the end I made myself a pair of cowboy style boots that sit on my shelf like a trophy that I use for motivation to make again one day. Aside from that, a messenger bag I made for my husband as a surprise gift.
What excites you right now, like, what gets you out of bed in the morning
I recently hired two badass ladies to help me with the painting process & help my biz expand. Having two people that now rely on me to delegate weekly tasks motivates me to be more organized & be a better person myself so I can be a better leader.
What advice would you give someone just starting out?
Stay true to yourself. There is a fine line of finding inspiration & trying to replicate somebody else's work, so make sure to respect that as well. Also, be kind to yourself & try not to get discouraged with learning curves. You'll always be farther along than if you have never tried at all.
Future plans for your business/upcoming projects you’re excited about?
I'll be opening up in two new shops in San Diego county in the upcoming months, along with the debut of my website. The shops I'm very excited about, but I'm really excited to be accessible to people outside of San Diego & ship worldwide.
Where can the people find you/your shop? (socials and brick + mortar)
You can currently shop my products in person at the Sea Hive off Coast Hwy in Oceanside where I currently have the most inventory. La Loupe Vintage off Adams Ave of course is an awesome shop to find my goods. Trash Lamb in South Park also carries my inventory, which I'm thrilled about. My upcoming brick and mortar locations will be a shop in downtown Escondido called Daydream, as well as a new Sea Hive "mini" in the Mission Valley outdoor mall. Until my website is launched, you can find me online through IG @htkleather - but soon www.htkleather.com will be accessible for all internet peeps.
