Tools of the Trade: An Interview with Dimitris Koutsipetsidis
Get ready to dive into creativity and craftsmanship! Meet Dimitris Koutsipetsidis, a passionate bookbinder who's not only crafting mesmerizing books but also handcrafting his very own binding tools. Today, we're shining a spotlight on his inspiring journey and the unique tools he creates.
1) Can you tell us about yourself in a nutshell: who are you? Where are you based? And what is your signature bookbinding style if you could summarise it in a few words?
My name is Dimitris Koutsipetsidis - don't worry if you can't pronounce it, it happens to everyone!
I am based in Athens, Greece and my signature style is traditional western, full leather (or "french" leather), laced-in boards, bindings.
2) How did you get into bookbinding?
My journey as a bookbinder began during my days at the university, where I studied literature and linguistics. My other great passion was handcrafting, especially with leather; If you visited downtown Athens as a tourist in 2006-2008 chances are you’ve seen me next to a subway station selling small leather goods on a portable bench.
One day during a book fair I came across a kiosk with handbound books and journals. I was instantly drawn to it and had a moment of realization: this craft combines my two halves – books and handcrafting. I made a few attempts at bookbinding on my own, trying to reverse-engineer a binding based on how I imagined it was done. I then took my best result and began asking around local bookbinders if they would take me as a helper and teach me the craft in return.