Have you ever wondered about the craftsman who made your leathergoods – what kind of wallet does he use?

Has he made some kind of ultimate wallet for his own pocket?

Perhaps he uses prototypes or defective seconds?

Or, maybe his wallet was actually made by someone else?

Here with a special treat for the holiday season, I present a collection of leathercrafters and their own carry goods. Click on the headings to check out their websites!

(All photos belong to the individual makers; some have been edited by myself for clarity or usability on blog platform.)

In no particular order, here we go:

The Blackacre

Ray’s signature curves and fine detailing are well known among leather nerds. Ray usually wears his own prototype wallets as part of the thorough testing process that his designs undergo. His current wallet is a pretty cool design made in preparation for the re-launching of Blackacre; brown latigo leather outer, Wickett & Craig American bridle inner, here at 3 months:

The Blackacre is soon to re-launch; I hope to have more information and perhaps even some cool stuff from Ray to show you next year.

~

Don’t Mourn, Organize

If you’ve read my blog before, you are probably already familiar with Scott’s work – his crafts and many collaborative pieces have featured here over many years now. Working out of Utah, Scott specialises in honest, hard working leathergoods made with a variety of interesting leathers, and is especially well known for his belts, which he also makes for a couple of brands.

Scott carries a long wallet – whiskey shell cordovan outshell, veg tanned inner, #8 shell cordovan rein.

It doesn’t look like whiskey shell, you say…that’s because it’s been used everyday for 7 years!

~

Hawkmoth Leather Company

Tom – the maker of the Natural belt recently reviewed here – specialises in crafting with Baker’s oak bark leather. His is a relatively young workshop based in England. Here is his wallet, which previously belonged to his father:

This wallet’s story is perhaps best explained in Tom’s own words:

‘The desperate clinging onto memories that become more distant as each season passes.

The wonder of a child’s eyes when fixed upon a crisp, clean, blue £5 note that sits tantalisingly tucked away .

It’s about knowing that this object was once in constant close proximity to someone who is painfully missed.

It’s a trip to the garden centre to buy a new rose.

Or a payment over the phone for a new orchestral Sebelius performance .

A spontaneous purchase of a catfish for the fish tank .

A pub lunch with the family eating prawns out of a dimpled glass on a sunny day.

It’s choosing a first squash racket at age 13.

It’s knowing the weekend is coming by it’s movement from suits trousers to camel coloured cords.

A chat about ‘ Hang ’em High ‘ whilst it rests up on a chest of draws.

It’s about letting go, but also keeping someone close .

A father’s parting gift that no one wants to receive .

It’s a few pieces of insignificant leather that are worthless to anyone else, but priceless to me.’

~

Tim Leathers

Tim is a full time craftsman from my native Taiwan, and one of the finest makers I’ve had the pleasure of knowing.

A few hand-stitched pieces from Tim here. First is his now retired long wallet, used for 2 years, made of Italian veg tanned saddle leather and a coin case made with Tochigi stuffed veg tanned leather:

His current set, 2 years old, features his new work made with Sedgwick bridle leather outer and Italian veg tanned saddle leather inner:

~

Hollows Leather

For the first time, and hopefully not the last, Nicholas’ work is featured here. Hollows is a perennial favourite of Superfuture and Denim Bro forum members, and with good reason too.

Check out this wallet he has been carrying since 2012; natural Chromexcel outer, front-quarter horsehide inner:

Really nice patina developing – a perfect demonstration of leather goods looking better with age.

~

Guarded Goods

Jesse at Guarded Goods has a focus on smaller wallets and gentlemen’s carry goods. His personal wallet is a hand-stitched money clip made of #8 shell cordovan. Here at 7 months:

~

Voyej

Voyej is the leather dream of fellow mynudies forum (wow, takes us back hey?) member Lucas – after some years, now a well known name in SE Asia leather circles. Here is his Dewaruci bifold, made with an Indonesian veg tanned leather that was custom tanned for Voyej:

Can’t wait to see how this leather will develop. The lustre is very curious!

~

mill

Rocky has just launched his own brand, mill, after a few years of part-time crafting out of Brisbane, Australia. His shell cordovan card wallet was recently reviewed here on the blog.

A couple of pieces from Rocky, along with his very impressive Imperial jeans. His old rider’s short wallet after 2 years:

Deciding to size down for comfort, Rocky’s currently uses a shell cordovan card wallet:

~

Tempest Leather Design’s

Matsumura started his own brand after apprenticing in leather workshops for some years, though he is also the maker behind the leather goods from a few Japanese brands – one of which has recently featured on this blog. Here is his own hand carved natural saddle leather wallet after some use:

There’s something exciting in the works from Matsumura and a well known denim retailer – I will have more information for you in 2017.

~

Hubb Leather

Ian’s own wallet has been made with off-cut, blemished leather that didn’t meet the his standards for Hubb products. I reckon they look pretty good though – English bridle shoulder leather outer and veg tanned shoulder leather inner:

Very interesting internal lay-out too!

~

Sleeping Dogs Leather

Here is one of the few European specialists of the long wallet. Dominic carries his own work, made out of Lyveden leather – a British vegetable tanned shoulder leather with a waxy finish. Hand-stitched everything, even the rein & tag:

The red tone comes through at different angles too! A very unique wallet.

~

First Settlement Goods

Oliver has an unique arrangement with the folks at Context, basing his workshop on the premises! Oliver’s own wallet is made of Nile crocodile, in a very cool translucent grey colour. The inner is a grainy vegetable tanned goat. Nicely tied together with a linen cable hand-stitch. Here at 2.5 years:

Here is the wallet on top of the same crocodile skin in original condition, to demonstrate the patina development:

~

Borderstate Made

Matthew at Borderstate Made has an interest in leather currying, something that is not much done anymore. His own wallet is made out of Horween natural veg tanned horsehide that has been curried for 2 weeks using Matthew’s own alchemy recipes, while the inner flap is a vinegaroon dyed Chahin veg tanned leather:

That’s some good going patina!

~

Simon Tuntelder – Leather Goods

Long time blog friend Simon is a full time craftsman based in Denmark. He’s recently moved into a new atelier, and perhaps we’ll see his new set-up soon on this blog!

Check out this card wallet – the outer is natural vegetable tanned cattlehide from Italy, the centre piece made with thick veg tanned pigskin, put together with 4-ply British linen thread. A very English combo of tan leather and yellow threading, and very mighty patina going on too…incredibly dark brown at the moment!

~

Jake Burke

Jake (his brand formerly known as Made Supply) is based in Melbourne, Australia. He specializes in a finer aesthetic than the usual Americana inspired pieces, and his wallets are fine indeed. Have a look at his wallet, entirely made of shell cordovan from Rocado tannery in Italy.

Jake is currently transitioning to a new leather label – more info to come soon.

~

Faler Leathers

Last but not least, here’s a wallet that John Faler had made for his father, and later on used as his own. Wickett & Craig vegetable tanned leather hand-sewn together with linen threading, here at 1 year:

I won’t say too much more about John’s work just yet, but please check back with the blog in a few days, as Faler Leathers will be featured in my upcoming Xmas special review!