One
My story began around 2015 when I accidentally discovered an endless creative interest in calfskin processing. At that moment, I felt that by honing my skills, I could turn this hobby into a true art form.

Despite having limited resources—both in time and money—I focused on learning and working with leather rather than writing scientific articles or a dissertation. Eventually, I decided to abandon the idea of pursuing a PhD.

During that period, I explored various leather decoration techniques, though I ultimately chose not to use some of them. It was a crucial stage in shaping my taste in leather craftsmanship and deepening my understanding of the material.

Two and First True Love

The end of 2017. Overcoming my fears and doubts, I win the heart of a girl who will later become my wife, my lover, and the mother of our children. Her love gives me confidence in myself and in the future.

During this period, I leave both my PhD studies and freelancing behind. From now on, my path is guided only by leather craftsmanship and love.

Building a Team That Withstood COVID-19 but Fell in the First Days of War

Spring 2018. I hire my first employee—four years later, in the spring of 2022, he will be killed by a Russian artillery shell.

As I expanded my team and processed hundreds of orders, I believed that with the right people by my side, I could turn my craft into true art. But my first experience with a team brought only bitter disappointment. Instead of opportunities, I faced problems and challenges that tested my resilience.

In the end, the war of 2022 destroyed the weak team. But thanks to fate, I was able to preserve what mattered most: my family, true friends, and the leatherworking technology I had developed.

War and Evacuation

 

I’ll say it outright: I never believed this could happen, so I wasn’t prepared for the worst. But when war became a reality, my family and I were lucky enough to win our lives in this bloody roulette. We had rented a house on the other side of the Irpin River—the very river that separated life from death.

To avoid falling into the sights of a Russian occupier, we spent nearly a month—from February 24 to March 16, 2022—hiding in our basement, waiting for a safe opportunity to evacuate. When that moment came, we decided not only to save ourselves but also to relocate our workshop to a safer region in Western Ukraine, closer to the EU border. That is why today, Mureli Workshop continues to exist—because back then, despite the fear of death, we chose to hold onto our craft and stay in Ukraine.

But none of this would have been possible without the financial support of our parents and clients from around the world, who donated for a long time. I would like to especially thank Yuriy Smerichka, Morten Kirkegaard, Jerry Joliet, Shaun Fiaccone, and my photographer Oleksii Serhiychyk for their collaboration. I can’t name everyone who helped, but each of you has become a part of this story.

The War Period 2022–2025

This was the most difficult period of my life. I won’t say much, but I know one thing: I could have ended up at war, I could have divorced my wife, I could have lost my workshop. I could have lost everything.

But despite all the hardships, I managed not only to endure but also to continue growing my workshop and the Mureli brand.

The Future of Mureli

Despite all the hardships, the war, the losses, and the challenges, my workshop and the Mureli brand have endured. But that is not enough. I know that ahead lies not just growth, but the path to global recognition. What started as a craft will become a name spoken alongside Gucci and Prada. Mureli will stand as a symbol of quality, artistry, and unbreakable will. This story is only beginning.