What is Wadipay?

"Miracles don’t just happen."
We’re carefully compiling the success stories of makers who have successfully completed their funding campaigns and sharing them widely, like Wi-Fi, to bring new miracles to aspiring makers.

There’s one brand that’s particularly beloved on wadiz. It’s a brand that’s garnering a steady stream of praise from supporters as a “brand you can trust”—a brand that’s already making a name for itself among leather enthusiasts: Heavyts. Heavyts CEO Lee Jae-ho lived the life of an ordinary office worker until he turned 30, when he opened a leather workshop. What motivated him to set up his workshop and take on the challenge of a wadiz funding campaign? 

Lee Jae-ho, CEO of Heavyts

wadiz: Hello! First, could you please introduce Heavyts?

Heavitz: Hello. I’m Lee Jae-ho, CEO of Heavitz. Heavitz is a manufacturing brand that produces handcrafted goods. What started as a workshop with the simple goal of “making products I’d want to use myself” has now been growing for eight years. 

It started out simply, but once I got into manufacturing myself, I realized it was by no means easy. I found that I could only create “products I truly want to use” by maintaining the same values throughout the entire process—from raw materials to production, marketing, and sales. That’s why we at Heavyts strive to be as honest as possible in our craftsmanship. 

Wa: How did you get started with your leather workshop?

He: Until I was 30, I was just an ordinary office worker. It’s hard to explain, but I always felt a sense of restlessness deep inside. So I quit my job and spent a year traveling around the world. I think that experience was the driving force behind starting the leather workshop. I became convinced that I could live a joyful and free life while doing what I truly wanted to do. Coincidentally, I had a friend who practiced leather crafting, so we learned together and started the workshop. I was drawn to the fact that, with just my hands and a few simple tools, I could create something useful for others.

Wa: It’s been nearly eight years since you started that workshop. You began as a leather workshop and are now evolving into a specialized leather brand. It seems like you’re gradually expanding—what’s driving this growth? 

He: It’s not so much that we’re trying to expand, but rather, as we strive to deliver more and better products to the people who cheer for us, the brand seems to be evolving little by little. The life of a creator involves not only the obligation to make specific products, but ultimately, it’s about presenting the results of complex thought processes to the world, gaining empathy through consumer choice, and exchanging influence. So, the act of creating and selling is, in a sense, a form of communication.

As we showcase the results of our deliberations to a wider audience, we feel the need for Heavitz to grow into a more trustworthy and appealing brand. We want to refine our story more meticulously, clearly imbue our product designs with value, and provide an even more enjoyable experience in every way.

Wa: Personally, I think it’s the details that set the quality of leather products apart. I’m curious about what you do to achieve Heavyts’ signature delicate details. 

He: First, we clearly define the product’s purpose. Specifically, with the Money Lab (one of the Rewards for this funding campaign), our goal was to create a more compact wallet while maintaining its storage capacity. Therefore, we needed to eliminate as many elements as possible to create a design that was both minimalist and highly functional. 

I cut split leather in various ways, constantly thinking and refining the design as I feel the material with my eyes and hands. Once the outline takes shape, I make a sample, test it myself, and repeat the process of making adjustments and remaking it. This process has no set timeline. Whether it takes ten or twenty tries, I keep at it until I get it right.

Once the design concept is finalized, I address potential issues that might arise during actual use, one by one. At this stage, I have to consider both usability and durability. Rather than deliberately deciding on details, I tend to let function naturally guide the form. 

Resolving these issues simultaneously refines the design’s details. Since leather products are meant to be used for a long time once purchased, they must never look forced, no matter when or how you look at them. I suppose the details need to be convincing. 

Wa: That’s right. When the details are excessive, it can feel overwhelming. It seems like you really understand the essence of the product. Does Heavyts have its own philosophy when creating products?

He: Whether it’s a small item or a grand one, I like to refine it to be functional, unadorned, and simple. I hope many people will cherish and use them well for a long time. 

As a result, we’ve naturally chosen high-quality materials that are built to last, and we’ve set prices that are as reasonable as possible. Honestly, from a creator’s perspective, there’s nothing better than sharing that sense of connection and joy with our customers. 

Wa: It seems like many people resonate with Heavitz’s philosophy. While most people who buy leather goods like to check the texture and quality for themselves, Heavitz supporters, in particular, seem to be convinced just by hearing the Story. What do you think is the reason for that? 

He: I’m truly grateful. From the very beginning of our workshop, we worked hard to spread the word about “real leather” and “good leather.” Back then, there simply wasn’t any decent Korean-language content about leather. So we consistently studied leather and put a lot of effort into providing content through our blog. 

I imagine there are many people who first learned about vegetable-tanned leather and full-grain leather through Heavitz. As a result, our brand concept naturally settled on “high-quality leather.” Since people trust us this much, we can’t let them down—so we’re working our butts off.

Wa: I can even sense a sense of determination in your phrase “working our butts off.” After all, creating new products is enjoyable, but it also involves the pain of creation and running up against various limitations. I’m sure there are times when it’s tough.

He: Most of the time, it’s actually enjoyable. If I had to name the hardest part—though I’m a bit hesitant to say this—most Heavyts customers have a deep understanding of craftsmanship and natural leather, and they tend to accurately grasp the unique features and concepts behind each product. However, very occasionally, people who are used to mass-produced goods misunderstand or express dissatisfaction. They bought our products simply because they heard good things about Heavyts, only to be disappointed.

Heavitz products aren’t mass-produced goods. While we strive to minimize variations and raise quality standards to minimize the “handmade” look, they are, in fact, still handcrafted items produced in a workshop. Handcrafted items naturally vary slightly from piece to piece. Natural leather always differs in texture and appearance, and subtle differences—such as in the stitching—continue to occur.

In the past, attempts to eliminate these variations led to a loss of natural charm, resulting in the production of artificial, identical products. That mindset eventually evolved into an attitude that failed to respect nature and the environment. Hebitz is a brand that sees natural charm as its appeal. The biggest difference between Hebitz and mass-produced goods lies in our attitude toward leather, our primary material. We do not perform any processing to uniform the texture of the leather. We strive to reflect its original form in the product as much as possible.

Wa: I think the appeal of leather products lies in what the material itself expresses. Just looking at Heavitz’s Story, you can see their passion for vegetable-tanned leather. 

He: That’s right. That’s why Heavyts’ designs focus on highlighting the material’s texture. Vegetable-tanned leather is prone to scratches and stains, but it maintains its optimal condition on its own. Thanks to that, it has a long lifespan. 

While synthetic leather cracks and crumbles after just a little use, vegetable-tanned leather can last for decades if cared for properly. The way it changes over time is also part of its charm. Scratches appear, and the color deepens. We call this “aging.” Just like human skin, the surface captures the passage of time. 

Heavitz’s Fourth Reward: Money Lab

The Money Lab (one of the rewards for this funding campaign) is made exclusively from Italian Vacchetta—Heavitz’s favorite leather. It’s crafted using traditional Tuscan techniques, and the method is so exceptional that full-grain leather producers worldwide now adopt the Vacchetta technique. This leather is characterized by a soft yet supple, almost moist texture. 

Full-grain leather, including Bacchetta, gradually darkens in color and develops a subtle sheen as you break it in—this is called patina. The more carefully you maintain it with care products, the more beautiful the patina becomes.

Wa: A product that ages alongside you—leather really has a romantic charm. Now, let’s talk about the funding campaign. What initially motivated you to launch a wadiz funding campaign?

He: My biggest motivation was the desire to take on a new platform. While Heavyts has an exceptionally high repeat purchase rate, it’s still a very small local brand. So, I was most curious to see “how much recognition we could gain on a completely new platform.” I feel like this funding campaign has given me a little more confidence.

Heavitz Showroom and Café

Wa: You started out that way, and now you’re already running your fourth funding campaign. Since Heavyts operates both an online and offline store, why do you continue to run funding campaigns on wadiz?

He: Heavitz has always adhered to a made-to-order production model. Since our artisanal workshop system doesn’t have a very high production capacity, maintaining a wide variety of products requires a complex division of labor. As a result, even if we wanted to, we can’t produce inventory in advance for sale; instead, we gather a certain number of orders and produce them periodically to fulfill them. 

Crowdfunding works exactly the same way for Heavyts. When we receive funding and focus on producing a set quantity, it not only boosts efficiency but also tends to improve the actual quality of the products. Above all, knowing that we’re receiving cheer lifts the creators’ morale. From the workshop’s perspective, it doesn’t get any better than this.

Wa: You’ve been successful with every funding campaign so far and have met over 1,000 supporters. 

He: I always make a point of reading the comments from people who’ve purchased our products. Thankfully, many say, “I trust and use Heavyts because it’s Heavyts.” It’s not just about evaluations of individual products—many people express their trust in Heavyts itself. I draw a lot of strength from those comments. It gives me confidence and positive energy, reassuring me that Heavyts is still on the right track.

Wa: Since you’ve been diligently running funding campaigns for about four months, I’m curious about your plans for your next project. Will we be able to see it on wadiz as well?

He: I’d like to release new products consistently every month. wadiz really helps validate our products, so I feel like I’m taking on a challenge as if I were competing in a contest. Our next funding campaign will be for a type of leather that’s making its debut in Korea. We’re also preparing a stylish bag for the fall.

Wa: A bag that goes perfectly with fall—I’m really looking forward to it! Would you recommend wadiz funding to other makers, since it gives them that same feeling of competing in a contest?

He: Absolutely. I think every maker faces similar concerns: Is the solution I’ve found the right one? Will people love my product? You’ve probably prepared intensely, despite your fears and jitters, but actually introducing your product and connecting with people is a whole different story. At that moment, wadiz funding will be a huge help.

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