A little bit about me…
Hi, I’m Matt…
I am the sole craftsman behind Matt’s Leather Goods, based in Northamptonshire, the centre of leathercraft in England.
Since 2022 I’ve been working on this home-grown leather business in hopes of producing thoughtfully designed leather goods, that will last a lifetime.
How my leather goods are made:
I make all of my leather goods solely by hand, with hand tools. Skiving knives, edge bevellers, pricking irons, stitching punches, corner punches, wing-dividers, saddlers needles, rivet setters and mallets are all examples of tools I use every day. Working in such a way requires a slow and steady approach, so many of the items you see on this shop will take the whole day from start to finish.
Leather Selection:
All of the goods are made exclusively with full-grain, vegetable-tanned leathers. ‘Full-grain’ referrers to the split of the leather, meaning the full substance of the hide is used, including the very top layer, which is called the grain. The grain is the most durable layer of the leather and contains all of the character developed throughout the animals life.
Most of the leather I use comes from the Badalassi Carlo Tannery in Tuscany, Italy. My personal favourites include Pueblo and Minerva, two gorgeous leathers tanned using methods that are hundreds of years old, utilizing tree barks, natural oils and animal fats.
Patina:
If you haven’t experienced full-grain or vegetable-tanned leathers before, you might not be familiar with the patina that they accumulate. Typically, you can expect the leather to darken in colour, whilst developing a rich and lustrous surface. Friction, oils from skin, and exposure to sunlight will accelerate this process. Each leather and each piece is unique, so everyone’s patina will develop differently. Pictured above is a No.4 made from Badalassi Carlo’s Pueblo, in the colour Olmo, after a few weeks of consistent use.
Consistent handling should keep most leathers naturally conditioned, but if you wish to condition your goods, I suggest using a simple, natural leather balm.
Packaging:
My packaging changes over time and between products, but, currently each good comes inside a cotton canvas drawstring bag and a presentation box.
Lead Times:
Currently, lead times are up to 25 days. Often though, smaller orders will be completed within a few days of receipt. Leather goods require a slow and steady approach to ensure everything is just right, and I believe they are always worth the wait.