Learning leather crafts with Fabian Ragnar in Athlone

Playing being an apprentice for an afternoon

Showing off the bracelet I had just made thanks to Fabian Ragnar’s expert tuition. Picture credits: a kind person in the shop, I forgot to ask their name

Imagine a rare sunny day in February just after St. Brigid’s Day: that’s when I came across the newly opened Fabian Ragnar Craft shop in Athlone.

People were walking up and down the high street and there was a nice buzz in the centre of town.

Just off the main street (called Church Street) is Lloyd’s Lane, near the River Shannon and, as you walk down that street, in Burgess Village is Fabian Ragnar’s shop “By The River”, where you can find handcrafted leather goods like bracelets, chokers, key rings and other accessories. The shop also does repairs, so if your bag or belt needs fixing, this is the place for you.

Fabian was kind enough to offer a few short demonstrations/workshops that weekend on how to make a braided leather bracelet and I jumped at the chance. Within an hour, I was sporting my very own leather bracelet that I had cut and twisted into shape myself!

I also got a leather pouch: the leather pouches are exact replicas of those used by Vikings in the 8^th century and are often worn in re-enactments and historic festivals.

Fabian has perfected his craft on and off over the course of about 20 years and decided to transform his knowledge into a business in 2021. While working full time, crafting after hours, he was attending events at weekends to find his audience.

At the end of 2012 he started his research in family markets and then moved on to more specialised events such burlesque shows, pole dance competitions and eventually into tattoo conventions.

Everything changed at the end of 2022, when he was invited to his first ever late night show called “Only After Dark” held in Athlone. He met with a fantastic response to his products and made new important business connections. Fabian was working, crafting and showcasing his products all over Ireland through 2023. Thanks to people he met on different occasions he managed to secure himself a spot at the “Ennis Tattoo Convention” in March 2024. That was another milestone in his development as from this moment on more and bigger events began to open their doors to him. Later on in 2024 he presented his products at the “Titanic Tattoo Convention” and “Dublin Tattoo Convention” which are renowned international events.

Fabian said: "I was so pleased that people really appreciated [the leather crafts]”. He had found his “tribe” and things started making progress from then on, especially through word of mouth recommendations.

After sorting out his housing situation Fabian managed to move to Athlone in September 2024, as he says “to be in the middle and close to every big city of Ireland”. Just after the Christmas holidays and yet before year end, Fabian signed a lease for his first ever store. In just 2 weeks the store was ready to open its doors to the public.

He joined forces with artist Lukas (@heresy.in.clay on Instagram) who specialises in sculptures, which Fabian found to be in a compatible style to his leather crafts, and you can see his creations in the shop.

The shop launched officially in Athlone in February 2025. You can contact the shop on IG @fabian.ragnar.craft.