He was born in Čierny Balog, where in the local part Jánošovka . From childhood, their family lived with songs and music. The older brother was also a member of the folklore ensemble Mostár in Brezno and brought various costume components home, which Ľubomír Medveď enjoyed looking at and trying on. And so inevitably he finally settled in this folklore ensemble, later continuing in the ensemble Kýčera in his hometown Čierny Balog, where he danced and played on a fujara, whistle, or drumbli.
Ensemble life often carried duties alongside singing and dancing, such as repairing or making costume components. The making of traditional leather boots was the first craft of Ľubomír Medveď, who eventually devoted himself more systematically to leather goods.
The rich surrounding forests gave Čierny Balog the stamp of logging, and this craft was closely related to the traditional local attire. Leather boots, pockets, multi-pocket belts protecting the spine and stomach of loggers, woolen wristbands woven on a form were common attire for men in Balog in the past. Ľubomír Medveď focused on producing all these clothing components since 1987.
His relationship with them started early, absorbing it along with his mother’s milk. He became active in 1987. As a self-taught craftsman, he had to learn to recognize the suitability of a specific type of leather for each product and to use various techniques for its processing and decoration. Professional literature and participation in the folklore movement helped him, as he could directly encounter decorative elements from various regions of Slovakia.
After years of practice, decorative stamping and profiled rings – ratlíks, which he heated before applying to the leather, became closest to his heart. He also used silver studs and worked with stained leather.
He bought cattle leather mainly in Moravia. He had it polished to the desired thickness and then made a wide range of traditional shepherd’s products with it, respecting their regional specifics. He started with Balog patterns, but gradually added Liptov, Gemer, Podpoľanie, and Goral patterns. His range included leather boots, pockets, belts with and without pracks, pouches, phone cases, document holders, pocket knife sheaths, and bottle and cup holders. It is also worth mentioning the previously mentioned woolen wristbands woven on a form, where he keeps the traditional Balog patterns, as he learned their production from his mother.
His wife helped him sell products at fairs and markets held during Slovak folklore festivals, where he participated. It was at these events that he gained customers from the ranks of ensemble members and made clothing components to order for several folklore ensembles.
The quality, precision, and elaborate details of his work are defined by his excellent knowledge of traditional craft production processes and the environment in which they were formed, as well as his profession as a mechanical locksmith, which Ľubomír Medveď practiced throughout his professional life.
He was awarded the title “Master of Folk Art Production” in 2014 for his work.
(Source: Mikolaj, Tomáš: Masters of the New Millennium. Bratislava: ÚĽUV 2020)