Melissa Marie Leather: Crafting Heirloom Pieces with Passion

I am Melissa, the sole owner, designer and maker behind Melissa Marie Leather. With a deep-rooted commitment to sustainability and craftsmanship, each product I meticulously handcraft embodies the essence of slow fashion. There are no shortcuts here; every piece is designed and made by hand, no machines involved.

Embracing Tradition for Timeless Elegance

At Melissa Marie Leather, I cherish the art of leather working rooted in tradition. My vision is simple — to craft heirloom pieces that gracefully age over time, telling a story of their use as they do. I exclusively use full grain leather is not only the highest grade of leather but proudly bears the unique imperfections that narrate the life of the animal it once belonged to. These scars, stretch marks, and natural blemishes impart a character and distinctiveness to each piece, making each one truly unique.

Sustainability at the Core

The leather I use is sourced from select UK tanneries using sustainable practices. I solely work with hides that are by-products of the meat industry, repurposing skins that would have otherwise have gone to landfill. No animal has been killed for the leather that I use. Find out more about the leather I use here.

Custom Craftsmanship

To cater to individual preferences, most of my work is made to order, with a collection of stock listed on my online store when available. Most of my pieces can be customised to suit the use, whether it's a specific strap length, pocket size, or a unique buckle placement, I strive to tailor each piece to meet your specific needs. For those seeking a truly bespoke creation, I gladly undertake custom projects — feel free to share your ideas with me.

Take a look where I source my materials below…

I come from a family of equestrians and have owned horses my whole life, so leather saddlery and tack has been commonplace in my home since I can remember.

When I was young my mum always taught me to work hard for what you want and to look after it once you get it… “If you look after your tack, it will look after you” she says. This is meant in a very literal sense when you are trying to hold on to an animal 4 times your size on the end of a piece of leather. These things taught me respect and an admiration for leather, such a beautiful but durable material that could last a lifetime if I cared for it well. I hope to pass this love and respect of the wonderful, natural resource that leather is onto my customers.

THE PROCESS

Each product is meticulously crafted using traditional techniques — no machines, just hands. This hands-on approach ensures that every piece is genuinely unique. Starting with a whole hide, I hand-cut each component before fitting all fastenings using hand setting tools. Every item is then carefully hand-stitched in saddle stitch using waxed thread, a technique that guarantees durability and longevity for each product.

My focus is on quality over quantity, as I believe in creating pieces that are built to last. While hand-cutting and stitching may be more time-intensive compared to using machines, I find it to be more fulfilling as a maker and results in products that are more resilient and robust in the long run.

Saddle stitching, a method I employ, involves using a length of waxed thread and two needles, one at each end. The thread is meticulously stitched through the leather, with the needles weaving in and out at the same points to form a strong, reinforced binding. Unlike machine stitching, a saddle stitch remains steadfast even if the stitching is damaged, thanks to the interconnected nature of the stitches that knit the leather together like individual links. The waxed thread not only provides a protective layer but also helps secure the stitches in place.

Confident in the reliability of this technique, I stand behind my craftsmanship with a maker's lifetime guarantee on all stitching.