United Kingdom 🇬🇧
Otis Ingrams
Leather Designer | Furniture Designer & Maker
Otis Ingrams is a master leather artisan and founder of OTZI, a studio dedicated to crafting timeless leather furniture and goods that blend traditional techniques with modern design. Collaborating with renowned brands like Chloé, Lexus, and Olympus, he creates functional pieces that age beautifully and celebrate the integrity of fine craftsmanship.
A dedicated craftsman and designer, Otis Ingrams has been working with leather for over a decade. He founded OTZI in 2013 out of a desire to create durable, functional, and beautiful pieces, objects that improve with time and use, rather than being disposable. Inspired by William Morris’ philosophy, “Have nothing in your houses that you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful,” Otis built a studio dedicated to fine craftsmanship, producing bespoke leather goods and furniture that seamlessly blend tradition with modernity.
Otis' journey began as a hobby while pursuing a BA in English Literature, quickly turning into an obsession that led him to an internship at Bill Amberg Studio, where he refined his skills. His passion for leatherwork deepened, and in 2013, he established OTZI, working closely with renowned brands such as Chloé, Lexus, and Olympus, as well as interior designers, artists, and makers to craft unique, functional leather pieces. In 2017, he published LeatherWorks: Traditional Craft for Modern Living, a step-by-step guide to leather craftsmanship. Recognised for his dedication to the craft, Otis was awarded a QEST Leathersellers' Company Scholarship in 2018.
Originally based in London, OTZI has since settled in Norfolk, East Anglia, where Otis and his highly skilled team of artisans continue to push the boundaries of leather furniture and interior design. Every piece is handcrafted using British, Italian, and Spanish leathers, drawing inspiration from legendary designers like Carl Auböck and Jacques Adnet, as well as the proportions of Danish and Brazilian furniture design. OTZI balances traditional techniques, hand stitching, cutting, and finishing, with modern methods, ensuring craftsmanship remains dynamic and relevant in contemporary design.
At OTZI, every object is made with integrity, designed to age gracefully and develop a unique patina that reflects its owner’s story. The studio embraces the natural characteristics of full-grain, vegetable-tanned, and aniline leathers, treating each mark or imperfection as part of the material’s charm. Finished by hand with natural oils, tallows, and waxes, OTZI creations are built to stand the test of time, functional pieces that celebrate the beauty of craftsmanship in its purest form.