Murphy Thiel

REBEL WITH A CAUSE

BY STEPHANIE CAJUCOM

Murphy Thiel is on the pursuit of happiness, pleasure, and the love of leather. Detroit born and Brooklyn beloved, the 23-year-old designer is launching her new brand, all from her Bushwick studio. With Run and Hide Leather, Thiel presents a unique collision of design techniques delivering

badass bags and accessories with raw and rugged power. Living life by the seat of her pants (pants she probably designed herself), she infuses her pieces with that same carefree yet calculated attitude, giving spontaneity and spunk the passion and process they deserves.

We met at the heart of Thiel’s borough, a midst the slick new age hipsters and grungy artists that coincide with a budding family scene. Here in her present, she takes us to her past.

Born with an adventurous inkling, she began her design explorations at a young age, toying around with every tool in her parents’ fine art store. A curious spirit, she began experimenting with different ways of creating.

“At some point it led me to breaking out a dusty steel green sewing machine out from the 70s that my mom had.”

She started making pajamas, homecoming dresses and other garments to fit the specific spontaneous tastes she craved that no other brand could fulfill. “ Without any pattern making or draping lessons, I was experimenting on how to put together a garment.” Following the beat of her own drum, she brought her visions to fruition, her way.

“Menswear led me to jackets, which led me to my one true love; leather. I love you leather.” She swoons. The Clyde to her Bonnie, Thiel started a runaway romance with the tough as nails fabric at the age of 18, all at FIT (the Fashion Institute of Technology). The design program may have kicked her ass but it kicked off an illustrious new path in leather working. “I made my senior collection based on motorcycle gear, and made a leather jacket that won ‘best in show’ for my class.” From there, Run and Hide Leather spawned.

With a big focus on handbags, the Run and Hide Leather of today is a collection of marvelous monsters, made for the brave rebels and renegades. She celebrates the sturdy and the strong with handbags that magnificently mix bold leathers with smooth woods. With the moto backpack bison leather, pigskin and stainless silver hardware collide to create a resilient masterpiece, oozing with sex appeal. And she of course includes her prize winning leather jacket.

“I’ve become obsessed with an idea of creating a mobile studio.”

The future of Run and Hide Leather will be fueled by Thiel’s thirst for excitement. “I’ve become obsessed with an idea of creating a mobile studio.” Taking her work to the undiscovered streets, she plans on unearthing the boldest materials while sharing her own. “Being able to buy from different leather vendors, sell to boutiques around the country and have my imaginary motorcycle along with me for the ride…that’s definitely going to be my next big adventure.”

Between bar slinging, tattoo inking and leather loving, Murphy Thiel is making sure to kick life’s ass before it gets a chance to kick hers. Planning out a thrilling journey to ride through life, she’s creating pieces that inspire us to do the same. Run and Hide Leather is making sure you know that you can run but you can’t hide from the adventures life holds for you.