Legacy in Leather: The Artistry of L. Howard

Step off the edge of Columbia’s downtown and into a space where time slows, elegance breathes, and luxury takes physical form. Inside Atelier, the curated studio home of L. Howard Artistry in Leather, the aroma of fine leather mingles with the soft undertones of aged cigar tobacco and the fruit-forward warmth of a glass of wine. It is not just a storefront. It is a vibe. A sanctuary. A philosophy stitched in full-grain leather.

At the center of this sensory experience is Laddie Howard, Columbia’s premier leather artisan and the visionary behind L. Howard Artistry in Leather. Once a well-known lawyer and statehouse lobbyist, Howard traded politics for the process. What began as a heartfelt gesture—a handcrafted bag for his son—sparked a shift. He wasn’t simply making something. He was becoming something.

I live my life according to art and I wasn’t really living until I found this.

L. Howard

That level of authenticity permeates every piece he creates. His bags—duffels, clutches, weekenders, cigar cases, and more—are handcrafted for both men and women and designed to last not just through trends, but through generations. They’re not products. They’re heirlooms. Each one, named after family, born of memory, and built with care.

Every design has meaning. They’re pieces of my story, and now they become pieces of yours.

L. Howard

And in that exchange—of story, of material, of experience—L. Howard distinguishes itself as a luxury brand rooted in timeless refinement and heirloom quality. Much like the early rise of brands like Brunello Cucinelli, who began in a small Italian hamlet and built an empire on craftsmanship and restraint, Howard centers quality over quantity, intimacy over excess.

He doesn’t just sell bags. He curates an experience. And nowhere is that more evident than in his signature offering: Wine About Bags.

These exclusive, intimate events are at the heart of the L. Howard experience. Held inside Howard’s private studio, Wine About Bags brings together a select number of guests to sip fine wine, design custom clutches, and indulge in a creative ritual that feels less like a workshop and more like an evening at a private members’ club. There’s laughter, conversation, shared inspiration—and at the end, a custom-crafted leather piece that reflects personal style and timeless elegance.

It’s not just about creating a bag, it’s about savoring the moment. The wine. The energy. The intimacy of craft.

L. Howard

And that’s the throughline. Wine, cigars, and leather—three elements that, in Howard’s world, don’t just coexist, they conspire. Each suggests a kind of luxury that’s personal rather than performative. A refined taste for the tactile. A reverence for the ritual. Whether you’re running your fingers along the smooth curve of a clutch or swirling a glass of pinot noir, L. Howard invites you into a lifestyle where presence, process, and pleasure all matter.

Atelier itself—located just on the outskirts of Columbia’s downtown—isn’t exclusive in the closed-door sense. It’s inclusive in the intentional sense. Open to all, curated for those who appreciate the art of the handmade and the beauty of the personal. It offers leather goods, fragrances, homewares, and carefully chosen lifestyle pieces, many made by regional artisans across backgrounds and disciplines. But the tone is consistent: everything inside is meant to feel lived-in and luxury, curated but never forced.

I didn’t build this space for hype, I built it for expression. For people who want to own something that feels like them.

L. Howard

Like Telfar, Howard is defining a lane that transcends fashion and becomes culture. Like Ralph Lauren’s Purple Label, he’s crafting a world that says quality is the flex—and the quiet ones know.

So come. Sip something rich. Touch something timeless. And maybe—create something your children will fight over years from now.

Whether you’re exploring a signature duffel or signing up for the next Wine About Bags session, one thing is certain:

This is not just luxury. This is legacy—stitched, sealed, and waiting for you.

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