Welcome to the Identity Leathercraft blog, a series of articles based around making things from leather. Leather is a most versatile natural material that has been used for thousands of years for footwear, clothing, armour, and more, and continues to be used widely today.

In this blog we aim to help give you background information about different leather types, useful techniques for working with leather and some makes and templates to help you get making.

We are a very unique and friendly company that sell leather and leathercraft tools and materials to a wide variety of makers. We genuinely love what we do and are always happy to help you with your projects. Between us we like to feel we have a wide base of knowledge of the leather world.

We love to see what you are making and feature our customers work in our customer gallery email newsletter – if you would like to sign up to find out more please send in your images to info@identityleathercraft.com.

Every now and then a book or a TV show grabs your attention...

Every now and then a book or a TV show grabs your attention...

"For me the Wheel of Time series on Amazon was one to watch. I had read several of the books many years ago, perhaps long enough ago to be able to just enjoy watching the series." Sarah    The filming and costume design is an absolute treat for any one interested in leather...
Sarah Benson - Mar 06, 2026
Crossing the Atlantic in a Leather Boat

Crossing the Atlantic in a Leather Boat

Tim Severin was an explorer not just through his treks and voyages but also through time. In his Brendan Voyage expedition, he and his companions created a ship made using techniques that were only available to ship builders in the 6th Century AD, to recreate the voyage of St Brendan...
Sarah Benson - Feb 14, 2025
Taking painting on leather to the next level...

Taking painting on leather to the next level...

Introducing Clair Letton - leather artist and maker Some of you will have seen Clair's work for her competition entry earlier this year. She has long been painting on leather and has created her own unique style of surface decoration. The leather used here is the Identity Heritage UK Mellow...
Sarah Benson - Nov 14, 2024
A Storytellers bag - inspired by Phil Okwedy

A Storytellers bag - inspired by Phil Okwedy

A bag that tells it's own story - Sarah recently went to see the wonderful storyteller, Phil Okwedy storyteller with his show "The gods are all here". His storytelling piece weaves myth, song, folktales and legends of the African diaspora with an astonishing personal story that uncovers Phil’s experiences of growing up...
Sarah Benson - Apr 09, 2024
Our role in the Ashbourne  Royal Shrovetide Football

Our role in the Ashbourne Royal Shrovetide Football

We were really pleased to welcome the team responsible for the leather football used in the famous Ashbourne Royal Shrovetide Tuesday Football game. Part of the tradition of these events is the making and painting of the special leather football. Terry is passing on his knowledge to the next generation and...
Sarah Benson - Feb 13, 2024
Inspired by Pre-History Cave Art

Inspired by Pre-History Cave Art

A visit to the Grotte Chavet 2 in southern France led to this leather tooling pattern project,  inspired by some of the best preserved cave paintings in the world.The paintings and archaeological finds date back over 30,000 years and were preserved by a rockfall. Today you can see them up...
Sarah Benson - May 02, 2023
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Featured Posts

How we do don't (and sometimes do) use AI
Blog Leather and Leathercraft

How we do don't (and sometimes do) use AI

In a fast moving world we want to address how we use technologies such as AI. As a...
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The Humble Awl: The Most Useful Tool for The Smallest Spend
Blog Leather and Leathercraft

The Humble Awl: The Most Useful Tool for The Smallest Spend

If you could only have one leathercraft tool, it would probably be an awl. Not a knife. Not...
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Celebrating World Leather Day 2025
Blog Leather and Leathercraft

Celebrating World Leather Day 2025

Celebrate World Leather Day with us and get a £10 voucher! Launched for the first time in 2022,...
Apr 11, 2025
The benefits of leather for interior design
Blog Leather and Leathercraft

The benefits of leather for interior design

Leather tiles and wallpaper have a long history of use for upmarket interior design. The properties that make...
Sep 20, 2024

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