Samuel Lee is a master craftsman.
The armour he creates for his company, Prince Armory, are ornate works of art as beautiful as they are practical, shaped and produced with talent and passion. It’s hard to believe that such awe-inspiring designs are formed from leather, but such is the appeal of Lee’s work to everyone from cosplay enthusiasts, to advertising producers, and the legends of Broadway.
Lee is perhaps best known for his amalgamation of pop-culture and medieval influence. It’s one thing to build a Darth Vader costume, but another thing entirely to reimagine him as a medieval lord without the result becoming entirely overwhelming or garish. Fortunately, he finds the balance.
It’s been a long and challenging road for Lee – who started out creating basic foam props after becoming inspired by the sights at local renaissance festivals – to get Prince Armory to where it is today, but his determination has seen him push through to create bigger and better work each year.
We talked with Lee to discuss the transition from armour making as a hobby to a career, how the business as grown, and what inspires his unique creations.
(As always, you can click on the images for larger versions.)
What led to you first designing armour?
I was in my late teens, and was interested in LARP (Live Action Role Playing) and renaissance festivals. That’s not the whole story though; there was a period where I was set on purchasing a custom suit of armour, made the commission, and started helping the guy. That was probably the real starting point for the leather armour-making path.
At what point did you decide creating armour would be your career?
I wonder if I did ‘decide’…I guess to some extent I did, but it was more a matter of just doing my thing and rolling with what worked, I guess. I feel like I could have just as easily ended up in game design or some other tech, or wood working, prop making, sword making etc. I just like making things, and I intend to diversify more in the future. My success with the leather armour-making ended up being a bit of a chain – a nice one – but still something that limits my offerings a bit.
What were Prince Armory’s early days like?
It’s hard to say. Pretty similar, really, just less tolls and smaller projects usually. Even so, the core was still about making cool, original projects for individual clients. I’ve done some bigger projects now, got some nicer credits, and I’ve been honing my skills, but the essence is still the same: just deliver the best projects I can with the time and budget I’m allotted.
What makes Prince Armory unique in the industry?
I try to do new things with each project, and most of my designs are completely original, even the spinoff superhero ones, though they are based in part on existing concepts. Another major thing is that I have straddled the line between luxurious costume and a functional suit of armour. The designs vary between those intending to use their suit for conventions only, and those using it for LARP or SCA (Society for Creative Anachronism, a.k.a historical reenactment). Even the more outlandish ones are just as durable, and can be used in combat to a fair extent.
What range of clients do you serve?
Individuals mostly, but also some film and theatrical productions, musicians, and entertainment groups.
The Prince Armory designs are so unique! How much of that is a result of your ideas vs client direction?
I try to extract the essence of what each client wants and run with it. Often times, a client approaches me with a project they want to do, but it may turn out that I feel it will not offer the best value, so I guide them to something that still gives them the essence of what they want, but also better value. Then I just go with it. Even on replicas, I often request artistic liberty so I can design as I see fit to make sure the project has the appropriate impact. I try to keep in mind the audience as much as the client, because the client is purchasing more than a thing, they are purchasing the experience that comes with it. And if I can make it so that it will draw the eyes and build up crowds of onlookers at conventions and events, the client is going to get that ‘rock star experience’.
What are you favourite type of designs to create?
I suppose I am most partial to the superhero/villain fantasy and medieval spinoffs that I’ve done. I call them the ‘Legends’ series, where I take iconic heroes and villains and given them an original twist as if they were fantasy themed knights or warriors. But I would have to say doing completely original designs are probably more satisfying.
What do you consider a perfect armour design?
Perfect is an abstract, undefinable concept to begin with. I don’t bother with perfect. Doesn’t even enter my thought process. I concern myself with making sure a piece looks awesome in a general and literal sense, and the shades of awesome are just to make it better, and better, and better, depending on how much time can be invested into it. To me, awesome in this context means using quality materials, that it fits well, is comfortable, and has top-notch aesthetics with a good balance, colour choice, contrast ratio, loads of detail and artistry, flowing lines, form-flattering shapes, or exaggerating the human form for greater impact. Things like that.
You’ve recently launched a Patreon campaign with the intent of providing a behind-the-scenes look at Prince Armory. Can you tell us a little more about what you have planned?
So here’s what the Patreon campaign is for: currently, probably 98% of my production time is tied up in custom orders, like I mentioned when I was talking about the ‘chain’ earlier. I try to squeeze in a mini-guide here and there, but I really have little time for much else. It pays the bills, grows the business, and does everything I need it to. But I personally want to do so much more! And to that end, I would like that to be something more like 50%, so I can divide the remaining time between producing content such as tutorials, guides, product reviews, Youtube videos, making-of videos, shop tours, and other behind-the-scenes videos and blogs. I also want to make books, DVDS, and more. The rest of the time I was to be free to pursue new projects like the ‘shop talk’ series I want to produce in a Youtube/livestream format; possibly audio cast as well. So, I plan to start putting out content regularly, and if people want to see more than maybe they’ll consider supporting the cause so I can keep growing my business as well as providing valuable or interesting content for everyone.
Finally, what does the future look like for Prince Armory?
Once I relocate to a more metropolitan area – I’m out in the sticks now – I would like to do another hiring phrase and start tailoring the business to do a lot more of the commercial, film, and entertainment projects. Either way, I’ll just keep on making cool stuff.
To see more of Samuel Lee and Prince Armory’s work, visit PrinceArmory.com
You can donate to the Patreon campaign here.
Our thanks go to Samuel for taking part in this interview.