Courtesy of Mark and Hannah Mulay
Set deep in the woods of rural Bovey, Minnesota is sweet secret: 27-year-old Mark Mulay, a talented artisan carrying on the centuries-old specialty craft of Ancient Greece and Egypt—leather tooling. A trade that has carried history from man’s first footwear by way of the sandal, Mulay’s custom leatherworking shop sits quietly in the northern heart of his wife Hannah’s home state of Minnesota.
The Mulays have a genuine appreciation of ancient artifacts and history. They were raised by two sets of Christian missionaries in the multicultural center of Dakar, the capital and largest city in Senegal, located in West Africa. Following their K-12 studies, they both returned to the United States—Hannah moved back to Minnesota, where she earned an international studies degree at St. Cloud State University, and Mark returned to his home state of Colorado.
Upon his return, Mulay considered following his brother’s path as a firefighter, but instead opted to join the U.S. armed forces. He served in Afghanistan as an infantryman with the Fourth Infantry Division out of Fort Carson, Colorado. He was part of the A Company, 1-38 Infantry Battalion, which is also a part of the First Stryker Brigade nicknamed “The Raiders.” As an E-4 specialist combat soldier, he was attached to the First and Seventh special forces.
Mulay knew working with his hands in a trade was something he wanted to pursue, and YouTube tutorials provided excellent study while serving abroad. First interested in blacksmithing, which he considered too noisy, Mulay switched course—in 2019, he dove into the art of leather crafting.
Fascinated by the art form, Mulay says genuine leather is authentic—it stands the test of time. He respects each piece of hide that becomes another’s treasured heirloom, by function or by art. The craft provides therapy, by touch, by movement, and by design. The hand tools are vast. Instruments are used to carve and pattern, to hammer and print, to cut, shape, and stitch—personalizing every piece “an original.” Leather is Mulay’s study, and leather tooling is his craft.
The Workspace: A Peaceful Retreat
Mulay works out of his in-laws’ home while they continue their global travels in ministry. When I arrive at his workspace, two fuzzy kittens poke their heads up from the pole barn. A smaller dog barked loudly as his companion, a large mastiff, stood over top commanding a welcome. One of the couple’s young sons is occupied with his afternoon cartoon on the TV. This is a workplace where the best of many worlds collides: family, love, and livelihood.
Mulay leads me to his shop, where I’m introduced to a wonderful scent storm of leather. The warm, subtle smell of genuine leather cannot be equaled. Mark’s shop oozes with the aroma of warm musk, a slightly spicy, powdery smell. The notes are sweet and distinct, the envy of every good candle company. Large sewing machines sit to the right of a workstation full of hammers, tools, and carving knives—an American flag (signed by his brothers in arms) adorns the back wall. Mulay’s combat vest and a map of Senegal flank the side walls of the shop. Loose paper with intricate drawings lay at various desktops—pieces of meticulous drawings in the works.
Crafting With Passion
On display sits the most majestic piece that takes pride of place: the custom saddle Mark created for Hannah. It is stunning, elaborately detailed, soft where it needs to be, and solid for wear. Through a veteran’s program, Mark was able to attend a saddle building and fitting course at the Montana Horseman Saddle Building School, which has taught the art of Western saddle building to students from all around the globe.
Mulay describes his training and education under expert saddle builder Dale Moore as transformational and rewarding. Now that he’s settled in Minnesota, this area of expertise is one Mulay desires to explore—he hopes his small business, Mulay & Co., may grow to become a household name for area equestrians and beyond. “Leather is very much a part of an equestrian life: saddles, harnesses, belts, boots, reins, bridles, breast collars— a tack room is a leather craftsman dream,” Mulay says, “beauty and function that will serve for years.” Mulay & Co. has been a sponsor to Raise the Bar Productions and Minnesota District 6 Barrel Racing.
Mulay also creates beautiful custom-carved guitar straps. He recently completed two intricate floral and musical note pieces for Jason and Blake Waldron of the Jason Waldron Band, a father-son country music duo from Effie, Minnesota. Jason made the generational choice of selecting the family last name as ornamental carving on the straps. The outlaw country band has a trademark identity: Jason in a dark cowboy hat, while his son, Blake, sports white. Mulay creatively topped a treble clef note with a hat, one in each color, an individualized nod to each musician.
Still new to the area, Mulay’s jobs often come by word of mouth. Some of his favorite handcraft items are utility bags, purses, handgun holsters, and belts. He recently completed a wedding groom’s party order of knife sheaths for meat cleavers, custom-tooled with hand-cut basketweave and floral patterns.
Mulay says he is surrounded by his passion: his family, his trade, and the quiet surroundings of nature. “I couldn’t be happier, I am blessed,” he says with a smile. “The more I can share this treasured trade with others, the beauty and history of this art form continues.”
Courtesy of Mark and Hannah Mulay
