Simply refined: Big Head Leather brings its wallets, bags, belts to the New Mexico Artisan Market

Ask Patrick Falance to describe himself and he simply says, “minimalistic.”

It’s that same easiness that the Albuquerque resident brings to his leather goods, which he sells under his business — Big Head Leather.

Falance and his wife, Erika, will be one of 130 vendors participating at the New Mexico Artisan Market beginning Friday, Nov. 29, and running through Sunday, Dec. 1.

Simply refined: Big Head Leather brings its wallets, bags, belts to the New Mexico Artisan Market

The three-day event is held at Hotel Albuquerque at Old Town.

According to the New Mexico Artisan Market, each year the organization receives over 300 applications and 130 are chosen to take part in the event.

The event is juried and a group of tastemakers from different industries across the state help narrow down the list.

This is the second year Big Head Leather will participate in the market.

“As a small business, we have to do our research and choose which markets will expose us to more people as well as have good sales,” Falance said. “Last year, we went in not knowing what to expect and it worked out well for us. People were ready to shop.”

Falance’s journey in the leather making world began about six months before COVID hit.

“I actually bought my beginners kits at the Tandy Leather store,” he said. “I’ve always been a hobbyist and I’ve always wanted to work with my hands. I looked at woodworking and there’s a big financial risk there. I also wanted to have a hobby that I would be able to do in my living room.”

As the pandemic hit, Falance found himself with time on his hands.

He worked daily at mastering the craft — often making mistakes and discovering ways to correct them.

He took the leap and got a booth at the Albuquerque Rail Yards Market — soon selling his first piece.

Big Head Leather continues to sell at the local markets and is included in The Albuquerque Collective on Eubank Boulevard and Constitution Avenue NE.

The collective has 32 different small businesses within it – 95% of those businesses are owned by women.

“That’s where we did our very first market,” he said. “We went with zero expectations.”

Falance and his wife share the business duties — he will do the leatherwork, and she handles the administrative work and does most of the hand sewing.

At the New Mexico Artisan Market, Big Head Leather will have tote bags, keyrings, beanies, wallets, purses, belts, passport covers and more.

“At least a dozen different products and 50% are going to be wallets,” he said.

When it comes to the design, Falance said he wanted to be minimal, yet make sure it was durable.

“In New Mexico, we have a very Southwestern style and I didn’t want to do anything with a concho or lace,” he said. “I wanted it to look refined. At the end of the day, I want each item to be something that people use every day.”

Many of the items are adorned with a Zia symbol and he tries to keep the price points for the products between $5-$250.

“I really want everyone to have access to our products,” he said. “There’s something for everyone and it’s all handmade by me and my wife.”

Participating in the markets is something the couple enjoys doing.

Falance said at the Rail Yards or Downtown Growers’ Market, there have been repeat customers who will give recommendations on what to buy.

“That’s the best feeling to have a customer that has had a wallet from us for two years,” he said. “We aim to make quality goods.”

Falance said building a business from the ground up has taken some time and he continues to learn along the way.

When it came to naming the company — it started out as a joke from his cousin.

“It’s because I have a big head,” he said with a laugh. “When I was a kid, I had to crawl backwards because my head was big. My cousin said the name as a joke one day. Later that night, it came to me that it was the perfect name for the business.”