Peachy the Magazine September October 2015 | Page 43

ON THE GO Born in New Mexico and raised in Texas, Cambria spent childhood summers riding horses on her family’s ranch. She grew to love the rush of leather smell upon opening the saddle house door each morning. As Cambria shares, “Riding horses equaled freedom. If you’ve ever had the opportunity to roam uninhibited on horseback through open range, mesas and canyons with no boundaries as far as your eyes can see, you can comprehend how freedom takes on a whole new meaning.” Cambria, who is self-taught, made her first saddle-stitched bag in 1996. Fast forward to 2015, and not much has changed. Cambria and her leathersmiths are still using the same saddle stitching method and basic tools to make bags and accessories. A love of music is another passion for Cambria, who also works as a photographer for a concert promotion company.   She sat down with Peachy to share her background, her influences and her philosophy for creating handmade, lasting bags that are unique and versatile—trust us that your Cambria Handmade bag will quickly become a favorite. Where did you grow up, and how has that influenced your work?  My family has a ranch just outside of Ft. Sumner, New Mexico. That’s where I was born. The ranch is a very precious place to me. My cousin and I used to ride all day long out in open pasture with nothing but sandwiches and sodas tucked into our saddlebags. Making leather bags is a way for me to stay connected to the ranch on a daily basis. It’s very nostalgic, and I’m a hopeless romantic. Who are some role models who have influenced you? I’ve always been influenced by my mother’s