I am training to be a saddler and working with leather and this profession are my passion.
Even in middle school, I knew I wanted to pursue a skilled trade. Even as a child, I did a lot of crafts and expressed my creativity.
When I was in the 4th grade of middle school and the work experience days were just around the corner, I had to 
think more carefully about what career I wanted to pursue. I was looking for a job that would allow me to work precisely, be dexterous, and creative. I was particularly interested in interior architecture and design. The second profession I wanted to try out was photography. Unfortunately, none of the many photographers would take me on a trial. So I started looking for another trade. I first went to the WKO (Austrian Chamber of Commerce) apprenticeship overview online and came across the job of bag maker by chance. First of all, I had to look up what the job entails, as I had never heard of it before. The job description piqued my interest, and I immediately started looking for a trial position. I succeeded, and during my trial week at another leather goods store in Salzburg, I was able to gain my first insights into this wonderful craft. After the trial days, it was clear to me that I wanted to pursue this career.
During my ninth year of school, I had the opportunity to get to know Christina Roth’s business. I was very impressed by Christina’s way of working, as well as working with a wide variety of leathers, such as cow, goat, snake, crocodile, etc. You only need your hands to create a product, and precision and accuracy are paramount. When I learned that she wanted to take on an apprentice after I finished compulsory school, I applied immediately and was thrilled to be accepted.
Working with leather and the precision required in every step has fascinated me from day one. Creating something beautiful from leather brings me great joy. Through a craft-based career, you begin to understand the value of the finished product and appreciate the things in life much more. It’s amazing how much I’ve learned from Christina in such a short time. I’m involved in almost all of her projects – from restorations to new creations to smaller workshops.
My name is Carolina Pöckl and I am training to be a leather goods manufacturer.
You can read more about the history of the CR leather workshop here.