Based in Ghana, Gill Quarcoopome has been working with leather for more than forty years. She is renowned for her traditional knowledge and craftsmanship in leatherwork, as well as her artisanal approach, which involves transforming pieces and scraps of discarded leather into new shapes and original creations. Born in London, she studied at the University of Sheffield but stayed in the city to create her own leather workshop. She honed her skills by taking a saddlery course and learned shoemaking from local craftsmen.

She ran a thriving business for over 12 years in Sheffield, UK, where she exhibited at trade shows, supplied boutiques, and made custom items for her clients. There she worked on fashion accessories and interior design pieces, including dining chairs, mirror frames, telescope and equipment cases, bags, belts, and sandals, often experimenting with a range of 22 colors and different leathers.

The skin of animals is a byproduct of the food industry and is itself consumed. Leather is the preserved skin of a dead animal. Yet, it is an amazingly versatile and remarkable material, with the notable ability to come alive anew. The animal and the tanning method will determine what this new life will be. Understanding the many types of leather, their possibilities as well as their limitations, opens up many fields of functional and artistic creativity. It can be as hard and protective as metal or as soft and fluid as silk.

Vegetable-tanned leather was and remains Gill's first choice. She settled in Accra with her Ghanaian husband and young daughter, where she created and experimented with designs inspired by the vast range of expertise in the fields of fabrics, such as kente and woven fabrics from northern Ghana, recycled glass beads, trade beads, cow horn, and intricate brass beads and accessories. Her brand, Sole Inspiration, was registered in November 1999, 26 years ago.

She has collaborated with international fashion designers to accessorize their collections and worked with interior architects to explore the use of leather accessories with other materials. She has been showcasing her creations at the annual Lagos Leather Fair since 2019.

Traditional techniques of hand-cutting, stitching, dyeing, and finishing are still used in the manufacture of many items. These techniques have been passed down over the years: training employees, courses, and advising businesses that use leather in their production. The goal is to share knowledge about leather in all its forms and to further inspire those with experience or those discovering this inspiring material.