Profile: Prince Ibe – Real Leather Design Competitions

Prince Ibe

London Metropolitan University

I’m Prince Ibe a leather craftsman and artist with a passion for creating functional and aesthetically pleasing leather goods. My work involves designing and handcrafting a variety of items, from bespoke art-to-wear leather pieces to other intricate leather products. Each project starts with a vision and is meticulously crafted using high-quality leather, traditional techniques, and modern tools to ensure durability and artistry. I create art-to-wear pieces that add artistic beauty to the individuals wearing them. Each item we create becomes a one-of-a-kind, precious piece that can be made only once. My inspiration comes from a blend of my own artistic vision, personal creativity and historical craftsmanship. I draw inspiration from classic leatherworking traditions, contemporary design trends, and the unique qualities of each piece of leather. This blend allows me to create pieces that are not only practical but also carry a unique artistic flair. My aim is to create products that are functional, visually striking, timeless and tell the African story through my works.

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African Talent Leather Design Competition 2025.

Category: Accessories

Competitions: Africa

The Perils of Motherland: is a hand painted leather artworks that serves as both a visual statement and a sustainable design pieces. Crafted from reclaimed leather sourced from leather offcuts, these artworks transforms waste into a message, advocating for environmental awareness and conscious consumption. These pieces symbolizes the Earth's resilience and our responsibility to protect it. Painted with non-toxic water based pigments with bush and awl. Telling the African story through my works and drawing attention to the contrast between unchecked consumerism and nature's fragility. These works champions the principle of slow fashion by highlighting the beauty of time, intention and craftsmanship. It challenges the fast fashion's throwaway culture, encouraging users to value timeless creations over trends. The upcycled leather base, each scar and mark left visible, celebrate imperfections, turning them into storytelling elements that honour the material's history and reduce demand for new production. Through these pieces I advocate for material-conscious design and a shift towards more responsible creative practices, where art, fashion and environmental stewardship coexist harmoniously.