Meet Harley Hope | Owner of ROGUERIES Leather, Art Director & Muse

I was born in Paris, France, raised in Maryland and have traveled and worked in Europe and all over the U.S. My deepest ties are with Honolulu and New York, however I learned a lot working in London and living in the American South.

All of the people that I’ve met and each experience, whether it be uplifting or depressing, have shaped how I interact with society and continue to create.

It’s been a difficult journey trying to find “home” but I’m happy to have had the opportunity to travel the world, learn about so many different cultures and share those experiences with others.

As crazy as it sounds, ROGUERIES Leather Goods started out as a jewelry company in 2014. Previously, I was working as an art director and illustrator in Hawaii, New York  and Seattle, creating major national advertising campaigns. The only problem was that I was promoting products and companies that I had no interest in. I moved towards the nonprofit sector and loved designing and illustrating for positive organizations, however, I still missed working with my hands.

I was drawn to metalwork and the magic of collecting gemstones and soldering natural materials together. I quit my day job and invested in a cheap workbench, basic tools and created a schedule to work on jewelry. At one point, I had one heavy suitcase dedicated to my goldsmith tools and I created rings and pendants on the floors of my tiny city apartments. Over time, traveling with these tools became more difficult and years of dealing with Lupus (SLE) slowed my arthritic muscles down. Working in leather is surprisingly similar to the making of fine jewelry. Every step must be planned and measured and it’s an honor to be able to commemorate the animals and materials that I come across.

Making the switch to work for yourself is the most intense decision that you can do and the most satisfying once you follow through. Being able to create what you want and how you want to make it is something not every artist gets to experience. Finding your medium is finding your soul’s voice. Sharing this inner magic through song, dance, art or speech can make any trauma or life hurdle melt away.

I’m still fairly new to the area and haven’t had as much of a chance to explore with the Covid restrictions in place. My advice for a week long trip would include a day or two in the Superstition Mountains and Sedona. The landscape is so beautiful driving to and from Phoenix and the flora changes so quickly depending on which direction you go.

In Phoenix proper, my favorite places to eat and drink are Carly’s, Belly and the Cornish Pasty Co. They all have different vibes. The best pizza I’ve had in town is at Pizzeria Bianco’s. And the comedy in town is on point. We’ve enjoyed stand up at FilmBar, Kobalt Bar and all of the surrounding comedy clubs. Vintage shopping has also been super fun in the Melrose District!

Albert Estergard of Toonanashoo Podcast on SoundCloud, Spotify, Google and Apple Podcast!