Noa Greenspan

Co-founder and COO

Noa Greenspan is cofounder and COO of The Leather Room. Noa is a seasoned artisan with over a decade of expertise in working with leather.

After graduating summa cum laude from the prestigious Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT), Noa wanted to buy herself some machines but couldn’t afford it. Even if she could, she didn’t have the space. So she started hand-stitching her own bags for NoaLim, but still needed access to a skiver and some other specialty machines. She looked for a space where she could rent machines to use, but there wasn’t one. “If I needed this,” Noa thought, “so must lots of other people”. Thus was born the idea for The Leather Room. 

Since graduating, Noa has served as the Creative Director and Manager of Customer Relations for PanAm Leathers, where she met Abram. In this role, Noa interacted with thousands of like-minded leather craftsmen and quickly realized she was onto something with TLR. When she pitched it to Abram, he knew it as well and the two set off to turn the idea into a reality.

Abram Mendal

Co-founder and CEO

Abram Mendal is a co-founder and CEO of The Leather Room. Abram and his family have a long history in the leather industry dating back to the 1950’s, when his grandfather first became involved in the tanning and international trade of exotic skins and luxury leathers. Pan American Leathers, Inc. is now widely recognized as a global leader in tanning, wholesaling and retailing exotic skins and luxury leathers, where Abram currently serves as the Vice President of Commercial Operations.

One of Abram's significant achievements during his tenure at PanAm Leathers was the launch of PAL's stock program, catering to thousands of individual craftsmen versus the company's long history of only serving larger commercial customers. This program found success in the US and Europe, exposing Abram more directly to the challenges faced by craftsmen pursuing their passion for leatherwork. Graduates from fashion schools or individuals investing in leatherwork classes often struggle to find and afford the necessary spaes, resources and equipment to hone their craft. So when Noa presented him with the concept for The Leather Room, Abram knew it was a homerun and promptly brought it to life.

Anthony Luciano

Chief Strategy Officer

As a first-generation New Yorker, a second-generation Italian, and the last of six children, Anthony Luciano is an evolution of artistry and old-world traditions. Both his mother and grandmother were seamstresses, and his father was a carpenter.

Following his passion for craftsmanship, Anthony attended the Fashion Institute of Technology and graduated with a degree in Fashion Design. After a few years in fashion in New York’s Garment District, he changed directions: accepting a position at a boutique accessory company and quickly rising to principal designer.

His collection of globally-sourced vintage handbag clasps provided the spark and inspiration to launch his eponymous collection in 2000, with the intent to produce a luxurious line of day and evening bags of the highest quality and craftsmanship. Almost immediately, his bags filled the racks at some of the finest retailers in America, including Bergdorf Goodman, Neiman Marcus and Stanley Korshak.

In 2003, Luciano was nominated for Accessory Designer of the Year by the Fashion Group International. His bags have since been featured in numerous magazines including Vogue, Worth, InStyle, Elle, and Harper’s Bazaar and garnered a respectable celebrity following, including such clientele as Judith Light, Meryl Streep, Debra Messing, Cameron Diaz and Megan Mullally, among others.

In 2022, Anthony launched Sip & Stitch: an intimate interactive experience in his NYC studio, where people can learn to make a custom handbag over a glass of wine. The success of S&S caught the attention of many media outlets like the Today Show, AM New York and more.

Anthony understood the need for TLR right away. For years, friends and colleagues have been borrowing time on his machines to get their own work done, not being able to afford or even know where to start to set up their own leathercrafting studio. And more recently, the Sip & Stitch students who want to pursue leathercraft further following his class have nowhere to turn. He knew TLR was the perfect solution..