“Where do you get your leather?”
The most common question I get asked when someone finds out I’m a leathercrafter is, “Where do you get your leather?” Well, from several different places. It’s just like finding your favorite things from five different grocery stores. Each store has something great you can’t get anywhere else. Same with leather buying.
Here’s a list of my favorite leather stores and why:
Lonsdale Leather in Vancouver, BC. (lonsdaleleather.com)
Lonsdale Leather is independently owned and a distributer for an Italian Tannery, Conceria Puccini Attilio. They carry a very nice selection of fashion leathers, shoe leathers, bag-making and crafting leather, dyes, hardware, tools and shoe making supplies. I’ve had the chance to visit their store in person and even won a contest through their Instagram page!
Lonsdale Leather store in Vancouver, BC.
My favorite leather from Lonsdale is the Maremma line. Nice bright colors in a firmer and fabulous smelling veg-tan leather. The Maremma leathers are perfect for wet-molding and the Natural color is perfect to dye. The Roma Dyes are the best. I almost exclusively use their water-based Eco-Cement (no fumes!).
They also offer workshops and sell a sneaker-kit to make a pair of sneakers. Great store and awesome staff. I like that they will offer smaller cuts, like 5 or 10 square feet, vs. purchasing a whole hide. A bonus is the fact that the prices are in Canadian dollars.
Tip: Order a swatch to sample different leathers.
Jaguar Green Maremma leather bowl by Conceria Puccini Attilio tannery, leather sourced from Lonsdale Leather in Vancouver, BC.
Maverick Leather Co. in Bend, Oregon (maverickleathercompany.com)
Maverick Leather is also an independent leather store that I have loved ordering from and have had the chance to visit in person. They offer second run and premium hides from USA tanneries Horween, S.B Foot and Wickett & Craig. Maverick Leather also sells leathers from Italian tannery Conceria la Bretagna - not second runs and oh, so nice.
Stunning Fluid Navy double shoulder by Conceria la Bretagna, bought from Maverick Leather in Bend, Oregon.
It’s sometimes a surprise to see what you get when ordering online as their photos are not the best and they will make up a color name because they’re not exactly sure of what the tannery color was. But hey, it’s a good deal and great stuff from great tanneries. My favorite is the Horween Chromexcel in deep burgundy—such a gorgeous color and a very waxy, nice feeling leather.
Tip: Call ahead before you visit in person.
Horween Chromexcel burgundy tote, leather sourced from Maverick Leather Co. in Bend, Oregon.
Buy Leather Online in Italy (buyleatheronline.com)
The name is generic sounding, but I’ve ordered many times from this company and it’s a great find for value and selection of Italian leathers from three main tanneries: Carlo Badalassi, Conceria Walpier and Tempesti. These are some of the finest Italian veg-tan leather makers. The prices are actually cheaper than the US distributers AND there is no sales tax since it’s an exported product from Italy. Great color selection and fast shipping.
Minerva Box leather by Carlo Badalassi tannery, sourced from Buy Leather Online.
My favorite so far is the pebbled vachetta Minerva Box line by Carlo Badalassi. Also a great find for any wallet maker who prefers Buttero or Dollaro leather by Conceria Walpier.
Tip: Buttero in Natural with custom splitting to 1.0 - 1.2mm is ideal for wallet pockets.
Three rolls in the foreground are Buttero leather by Conceria Walpier, sourced from Buy Leather Online.
Buckleguy in Massachusetts (buckleguy.com)
Buckleguy is a family owned business that started as a brass hardware company and in the last 10 years has offered a great selection of leather, tools, thread, patterns - really geared toward the small crafter. They offer whole hides and small panels, so it’s easy to try something new. These are first run leathers from nice U.S. and European tanneries. My favorite leathers have been the Valdibrana Vachetta and the Wickett & Craig Bridle leathers. Great colors and amazing quality. As far as brass hardware goes, Buckleguy is hands down the best.
Tip: You can find low grade pieces and scrap offerings that are a great way to start learning.
Hand-stitched wallets made with Valdibrana Vachetta in Carmine Red and Biscuit, leather sourced from Buckleguy in Massachusetts.
Your Local Tandy Leather Store (tandyleather.com)
Tandy Leather is a national chain store that supplies your basic leathercrafting supplies. It’s a great place to get started learning with knowledgable staff. Tandy offers classes and good beginner tools. Their European Bends of natural veg-tan leather are quite nice and they often have sales.
Tandy carries chrome-tanned and vegetable-tanned as well as oil-tanned leathers. I would classify Tandy as more of a utilitarian leather-crafter’s store with a few hidden gems to find on occasion. They sell water-based and alcohol-based dyes, waxed thread, stamping tools and pattern kits. They also have a large selection of hardware, which is great in a pinch, but it is not as good as Buckleguy - by far.
The Rugged Tool Chest made with 6-7 oz natural veg-tan sourced from Tandy Leather.
The Tannery Row in Chicago, IL (thetanneryrow.com)
The Tannery Row is a source for high-end leathers from USA’s Horween and other European tanneries. They offer single hides that might only be available normally to luxury brands. I have not ordered from them *yet*, but basically drool over their webpage when I browse. Horween is well-known for their Chromexcel line, which is processed both with vegetable and chrome tannages. Also famous is Horween’s luxury shell cordovan hides-”the art of tanning at it’s finest.”
Tip: Check out the Tannery Row’s website About page for very good articles about their leather products.
Horween Shell Cordovan leather.
Shoe-Making supplies and Leather for soles:
I have dabbled in shoe-making with the inspiring book, The Sandal Making Workshop. I highly recommend this book to get started with learning some fundamentals of shoe-making. The author provides a comprehensive directory of suppliers for materials, as well as offering workshops!
The author’s first pair of handmade sandals, sole materials sourced from Oregon Leather Co in Portland.
Oregon Leather Co. in Portland, Oregon (oregonleatherco.com)
I have been able to visit Oregon Leather Co. in Portland to find plenty of shoe-making supplies: tools, tacks, thick leather for soles, cement, foam, rubber and even Birkenstock soles. Oregon Leather Co. store is located in Old Town in Portland and has been in business since 1908, so it feels like a time capsule, full of interesting items.
Lonsdale Leather is also a great source for shoe-making supplies, sneaker kits and shoe lasts.
A sneaker kit from Lonsdale Leather in Vancouver, BC.
These leather sources are not the only places to find great leather hides. There’s still a whole world of leathers and techniques of this craft that I’ve yet to discover. Perhaps I’ve inspired you to explore working with leather and learning a new craft - it’s been such a joy for me.