Kathy Karadza
Artist | Designer | Maker
Creating with a love for connecting with others through her craft, Kathy’s practice explores transformation and a deep respect for the natural world.
Working predominantly with reclaimed leather sourced from fashion houses, she reshapes overlooked materials into wearable works. Through a minimal-waste approach, the material is given renewed presence, extending its life while honoring its natural origins.
A native New Yorker, Kathy grew up watching her father build, make, cut, create with wood, wires, paint, and power tools, and helped him with small tasks.
She first started making handbags in her downtime while working backstage on Broadway shows. She used leftover fabrics and leather from costumes to learn how to make handbags. It started as a hobby, became a passion, and now a small business.
Kathy is currently an Early Career Artist member of the American Craft Council (2026).
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Select Exhibitions
2025
Smithsonian Craft Show, Washington, DC
Crafts at the Cathedral, St. John the Divine, New York, NY
2026
American Craft Made Baltimore
Artrider Spring Craft Morristown, NJ Philadelphia Museum of Art Craft Show
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Made in NYC
Each piece is made in New York City, and most are created from reclaimed luxury leather from prestigious fashion brands in Italy and the United States. We also use cactus leather from Mexico and materials sourced locally.
Leather pieces leftover from our handbag production are used to create small accessories for a minimal waste approach.
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Partner with Shatterproof
Katerina NYC is a small business partner with Shatterproof, a nonprofit that supports addiction recovery services. We work with them to raise funding and awareness and donate to the cause annually.
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Past Work
Kathy has worked on costumes and tailoring for Broadway productions including Disney's The Lion King, Hamilton, Phantom of the Opera, and Radio City Music Hall's Christmas Spectacular, and with world-renowned music artists including Mary J. Blige, Karol G, and Arcade Fire; in fashion, for shows of collections from Givenchy, Saint Laurent, and Emmanuel Ungaro; in sports, as the tailor to the players for the U.S. Open tennis tournament; and in costumes for film and television (Bull, Billions, New Amsterdam).
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Where to Find Us
Shop our collection online, in stores,and at local and regional artist markets and craft shows.
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