Pueblo Grande Museum
A Love Letter to the Sonoran Desert
Invited to showcase an exhibition in the Community Gallery of the Pueblo Grande Museum, Remington Reble designed and directed an immersive exhibit, including photography, text panels, custom displays and a 12-piece, handcrafted capsule collection.
Inspired by the handwoven basketry of the Museum’s archive, Reble researched weaving techniques used in leather goods and discovered Intrecciato, a technique that involves threading thin strips of leather through pre-cut slits across a base. Building upon his foundational capstone collection, Reble crafted a capsule that is completely hand cut, woven, stitched and finished using traditional leather working techniques. The journey of the design and making process is at the core of what drives Reble to create these handcrafted works and imbue them with a sense of timelessness and artistry that can only be achieved by the human hand.
Process Photography
By Lauren Hanneman
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With a concern for the environment in mind, Reble sought sustainable leather alternatives for his first accessories collection and discovered a leather-like material made from the nopal or prickly pear cactus. The cactus leather, made by Desserto, a company based in Zacatecas, Mexico, retains the qualities of leather but has a significantly reduced environmental impact. A native plant of the Sonoran Desert, the cactus doesn't need additional resources to grow, promoting biodiversity and minimizing the carbon footprint of the cactus leather.
After selecting cactus leather, Reble looked further into sustainable design practices used in the desert and was drawn to the Tucson Mountain Retreat by DUST Architects featuring geometric design systems that help it blend seamlessly with the surrounding environment. Starting with the cardholder, these angles and proportions guided the evolving design language of the collection.
For many centuries, the Sonoran desert has been an ongoing source of inspiration and exploration for sustainability, design and craftsmanship.
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During his hikes, Reble was inspired by the skeletons of cholla cactus that lined the trails. With a structure that appeared to be woven, these bones told the story of the desert, and simultaneously served as the perfect frame for the Intrecciato capsule collection.