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 nearly forty years.

With the help of a 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 of Napa California, 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 by him, it was favorably reviewed and achieved a healthy round of five editions.

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 which Oberon Design still participates. In 1992 Brendan created a new company, Oberon Design, based on the concept of leather book covers, expanding again in the late 1990's to include a pewter casting shop that produces a line of jewelry, bookmarks, barrettes and the Oberon journal buttons. Brendan remains the lead designer at Oberon with expertise in both leatherwork & pewter casting, and is responsible for the creation and implementation of the Oberon pewter line.

Brendan has worked with his sister, author and artist, Becca Smith since 1995. Becca works in tandem with Brendan in product development, design, personnel and production management. Don Tucker is sales manager for our wholesale accounts and retail shows and works in tandem with Becca on production. The Oberon team operates using a 'hands on' approach, producing everything in house, including the Oberon Design catalog and web site.

Oberon Admin' Directory

Brendan Smith - Founder & President
Becca Smith - Vice President
Donald Tucker - Sales Manager
Linda Havens - Accounting
Lola Briseno - Order Desk
Tony Tugwell - Web Maestro

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 .

Contact Us

Oberon Design
1817 Empire Industrial Ct
Santa Rosa, CA 95403

E-mail: sales@oberondesign.com
Phone: 866.462.3766 (toll free)
Phone: 707.570.3910
Fax: 877.406.5777

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