On any given day, you might find Nguyen Tran Phuong Hien rocking up to her Hanoi leather workshop on a handsome Harley-Davidson Iron 883. On the weekends, she prefers something with a bit more heft, like her Heritage Softail with its gangster-era style and vintage details. One of, if not the only, female riders who’ve cruised the length of Vietnam on a Harley, there’s nothing typical about this 29-year-old from Thai Nguyen.
Born to a family of shoemakers, one of Hien’s earliest memories is of her father and grandfather handcrafting shoes in their home workshop. After earning a Master’s degree in Industrial Design from the UK, Hien soon found herself back in Vietnam, marrying her three true loves—biking, fashion, and leather.
Established in 2011, BHorse Leather is a mashup of Hien’s nickname along with the first hides she had to work with. Inspired by her fashion icon Alexander McQueen, the signature BHorse aesthetic is clean, minimalistic, and expertly crafted, but with a healthy dose of theatricality.
“People don’t want to see clothes. They want to see something that fuels the imagination,” said the famed British designer who might as well have been talking about BHorse.
“The difference in BHorse products is that they have soul,” says Hien. “When you pick up a BHorse product, it’s incredibly distinctive.” Starting from those first rare horsehides, Hien and her team of artisans now work with a range of exotic skins, including crocodile, lizard, python, and ostrich to craft beyond-beautiful works of art, like python Vespa saddles or crocodile Vertu cases.
While the boutique has some ready-made items for men and women including bags, wallets, clutches, and briefcases, BHorse excels in custom leatherworking. Customers can commission a piece inspired by their favorite designer (with their initials in place of a logo so the piece can confidently be used anywhere in the world without fear of copyright infringement), or something truly bespoke where Hien and her team will come up with a one-of-a-kind design after consulting with the client.
Widely known in the high-end motorcycle community for its gorgeous saddle bags and custom jackets, BHorse has a range of gifts that double as everyday art form. For this holiday season, Hien recommends a finely crafted cigar case for the sophisticated gentleman in your life, while you simply cannot go wrong with a python bag for the discerning woman who has everything.
See the complete collection at www.b-horseleather.com or visit the boutique and workshop at 101- 4B Ly Nam De, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi. For a limited time, receive a charming leather ornament with purchase.
