Gerda Retter

I have always been drawn to art, craftsmanship and the process of creating something with my own hands. My creative journey began in childhood, when I started attending art classes in first grade. This passion led me to an art-focused high school and eventually to Pallas University of Applied Sciences, where I studied leather design.

Leather design felt like a natural continuation of my journey — a way to express myself through material, form and function. I love developing ideas and bringing them to life, transforming a concept into a three-dimensional design.

During my studies, I completed internships at accessory companies in Italy and Hungary, gaining valuable hands-on experience in craftsmanship and production.

 As I often tell my customers, I wouldn’t have created this brand if I couldn’t make the products myself.

The Brand

Gerda Retter Design was founded in 2016, while I was still studying leather design. The brand is built around small-scale production, a personal approach and a deep respect for craftsmanship. Each piece is handcrafted in my atelier at Aparaaditehas (The Widget Factory) in Tartu, Estonia.

I work with carefully selected, high-quality chrome-tanned leathers and pay close attention to every detail. Spatial forms and geometric shapes are recurring elements in my designs, reflecting my interest in structure, simplicity and the character of materials.

My work has reached an international audience, with my products sold in New York and my designs presented at Venice Design Week and the Design-A-Bag competition in Hong Kong.

For me, creating by hand means more than making a product. It is about the connection between an idea, a material and the person who will eventually make it part of their life.