Brendan Smith and the History of Oberon Design

In the late 1960’s, Brendan Smith, the owner and founder of Oberon Design, embarked on a course of artistry that has occupied his life for over forty years.

He began sewing leather with a needle and thread, then borrowed a sister’s sewing machine, wedging it inside his bedroom closet and affixing various tools and findings to the inside of the closet door. Many broken needles later, he purchased an aging industrial sewing machine and graduated to an attic room where he set up his first workshop.

With the mentoring help of the proprietor of a local saddlery shop, Brendan was schooled in the nuances of leatherwork and developed his growing skill for precision and design. For several seasons Brendan set up a retail shop in his hometown, making and selling sandals during the Summer of Love. He began to identify himself with a life of creative process.

During his college years he supported himself with leather craft, expanding into moccasin making, handbags, belts and wearable art in the form of figurative whole-head masks of extraordinary character. He published a ‘how to’ manuscript entitled Brendan’s Leather Book. Humorously well written and illustrated, it was favorably reviewed and achieved a healthy round of five editions totaling over 40,000 copies, one review quipping that “It would charm the hide off a cow”. Although out of print it is still enjoys a healthy circulation.

Brendan developed a following for his leatherwork during the seventies and eighties under the name Walking Foot Leather. His reputation grew out of his direct rapport with customers in his booth each year at the Renaissance Pleasure Faire. In the late 1980’s he expanded his business to accommodate a large order for leather fanny packs for a Macy’s buyer. From this expansion sprang the concept of leather book covers that lead to the creation of Oberon Design as a company that has flourished since 1992.

Oberon Design has further expanded to include a pewter casting shop that produces the gorgeous buttons seen on most Oberon leather covers. Brendan also works with carvers and in 3-D rendering programs to design a line of gorgeous jewelry and hair accessories, also bookmarks and pewter gift items.

Brendan has worked with his sister, author and artist, Becca Smith, Vice President of Oberon Design, since 1995. After a long career in specialty wine & food in the Napa Valley, Becca brought her marketing expertise to Oberon and works in tandem with Brendan in both design and management. The Oberon team operates using a ‘hands on’ approach, producing everything in house, including the Oberon Design catalogs and web sites.

Don Tucker is our production manager, Lola Briseno heads the order department and Eileen Hallock, customer service.

Company Policies

Oberon Design is a small company of core crafts people, designers and office staff passionate about the quality of the leather and pewter products made in our studio shop in northern California . As a team we have a deep commitment to quality, pride of craftsmanship and customer service. Most of the folks making products at Oberon Design have been working together for ten to twelve years.

We're proud of the fact that we offer great pay and bonuses for our employees such as a health care plan that includes vision and dental care. We also offer disability, sick days, 401K plan and a profit sharing programs. We believe in training and in-house promotions and provide money for relevant school classes and seminars related to advancement. Brendan is a generous contributor to local charities & schools and writing programs in California prisons. He also makes generous contributions to political, environmental and human rights organizations.

At Oberon Design we're about self-sufficiency and value. Because we make everything we sell, we are able to insure every product that leaves our shop is to our standards, a high mark we set long ago. We thank you for appreciating our ethics and supporting quality products made in America .