Every so often I get messages asking about leather alternatives. From students, YouTube viewers, and people who join my Instagram lives. And the question always comes in slightly different flavours: “What do you think of vegan leather?” “Have you worked with mushroom leather?” “Is pineapple leather any good?” People have all sorts of reasons for looking beyond traditional leather: ethical concerns, curiosity, weight considerations, or simply wanting to experiment with something new. And while...

Creating Unique Leatherwork: Design Mistakes And How To Avoid Them (Without Losing Your Sanity) Patterns for bags, wallets, and accessories are incredibly popular — and for good reason. They let you skip the mental gymnastics of designing something from scratch, so you can enjoy the meditative joy of cutting, stitching, and convincing your pricking irons not to misbehave. But eventually, nearly every leatherworker gets “the itch.” You start thinking: “What if I just changed this flap shape?”...

Much like you, I’m a leathercrafter first and foremost. However, unless you work for a company producing leather goods, your role goes...