A Visit from Brompton Junction Vienna

A Visit from Brompton Junction Vienna

A little while ago, we welcomed our friends from Brompton Junction Vienna to our workshop. They came to spend time with Marek, see how our products are made, and film a behind-the-scenes video about Souma Leather.

What followed wasn’t a staged visit or a polished presentation. It was a long, honest conversation about bikes, leather, and the path that led from a single handmade bag to a full collection of Brompton accessories.

How It Started

As Marek explains in the video, Souma Leather started about ten years ago with a simple problem. While commuting by bike, he couldn’t find a frame bag that really fit his needs. So he decided to make one himself.

At the same time, he had been thinking about launching a Kickstarter campaign, but never felt he had the right product. The idea of a leather bike bag brought those two things together. He bought a sewing machine at a thrift store, started experimenting with leather, and learned mostly by doing — and by making mistakes.

The first Kickstarter campaign sold 50 bags and raised around $6,000. At the time, Marek was living in the United States, playing basketball before eventually moving back to Europe. After returning, the project slowly evolved. A visit to a local Brompton store and a simple suggestion, “why don’t you make something for Brompton?”, became a turning point.

Learning by Doing

Marek didn’t come from a traditional leather working background. As he mentions in the video, most of the early learning came from hours spent watching tutorials and experimenting. Over time, YouTube wasn’t enough anymore — the real understanding came from handling the material, testing techniques, and figuring out how to turn ideas into durable products.

That hands-on approach still defines how things are done today. Many processes take longer than they technically need to, but they’re done that way for a reason. Some parts are stitched by hand, others require careful setup and precision. And not every piece makes it to the finished stage, if something isn’t right, it doesn’t leave the workshop.

Materials and Details

A big part of the conversation in the video is about materials. Marek talks openly about leather quality and why not all “premium leather” is actually the same. For Souma Leather products, only full-grain vegetable-tanned leather from Italy is used.

It’s strong, durable, and shows natural imperfections, something Marek sees as a feature, not a flaw. Even though these products are made for bikes and real-world use,  dirt, rain, and everyday wear, using lower-quality leather simply isn’t an option.

The video also goes into small details most people wouldn’t immediately notice: edge beveling and painting, reinforced stitching, carefully chosen hardware, and the reasoning behind design decisions. These details don’t exist to look impressive, they exist to make products feel right in daily use and last for years.

Why Partnerships Matter

Visits like this are a reminder of why we value partnerships built on shared values. Brompton Junction Vienna doesn’t just sell our products. They understand how they’re made, why certain decisions are taken, and how to present them properly to customers.

Having our work shown in a store like theirs, where people care about function, craftsmanship, and long-term use, means a lot to us.

Watch the Video

The video starts in German and continues in English, offering a genuine look into Marek’s process, mindset, and workshop.

Our Brompton Collection

If you’re curious to see how this approach translates into finished products, you’ll find our full range of leather accessories designed for Brompton bikes in our Brompton collection. Each piece is made in our workshop with the same focus on materials, functionality, and details that were part of the conversation during this visit.