Leatherwork History
We strongly believe that, due to modern manufacturing processes, we have lost touch with traditional leather craftsmanship, leatherworking and our artisan history. Leather making and working are part of our nation’s proud history and national fabric and it is personally satisfying to now count ourselves among the few remaining makers still employing these traditional crafting techniques, and for using some of the finest materials that as a country are famous for throughout the world.
Stitching
There is a significant time investment in making handmade leather goods as each item is cut, dyed, stitched and then finished with the greatest of care.
We offer both types of stitching, saddle and machine and both methods have their pros and cons.
Machine stitching is much faster which means we can keep costs down for you, our customer and as long as it is used in non-stress areas then as long as the right thread is used, then there is no reason it shouldn’t last a lifetime.
Saddle stitching is an age-old traditional leather craftsmanship method which for high-stress areas is much stronger, but is much slower to achieve than a machine stitch as each stitching hole is meticulously punched with a sharp awl and stitched with two needles and waxed thread. Saddle stitching cannot be achieved with a machine so can only be done by hand and each time the threads pass through the leather they are knotted and therefore can’t unravel, unlike a machine stitch. On larger items, we set all our stitching beneath the leather’s surface to further protect it from any abrasion or snags so they really will last a lifetime.
In keeping with our handmade practice we have two sewing machines, Agnes, a 125 years old hand-cranked Singer 28K and Bertha, a Singer 132K6 from 1937. She is built like a tank and can sew through even the thickest of leather!
Edges and finishing
All edges are sanded, burnished with natural beeswax and the products are finished with the highest quality hide food and finally packaged ready for shipping.
Results
The results of this significant time investment are products that last for generations. Handmade products may initially seem expensive but when you own one and find that it only develops and improves with age the cost becomes immaterial and it is actually an investment in the future. This is why we guarantee our products against defects in materials and workmanship for life. (For full details please see our Warranty page)
