Awlmark Leather

Contact name: Joseph Buck

2
Total bookings

Rating

(2)

11 months
with CraftCourses

Maker's bio

I started my leather craft journey almost 15 years ago. At the time I was working for a famous luxury retail company. This brand is known mostly for their apparel which was, for the most part, of a very high standard. Their handbags and small leather goods on the other hand were mediocre. Over the years I’ve handled leather goods from pretty much all the well known luxury houses and have found them lacking almost across the board. Materials, craftsmanship and customer experience have all been declining while their prices increase. They promise luxury but deliver only the veneer of it to a clientele who lack discernment. While small and mostly unknown, there does still exist a tradition of leather craft. There are a few different camps in this leather craft world. My particular style follows the French tradition which emphasises precision and fine detail. We’re very much in the minority but our pieces are in high demand. I am entirely self-taught and have spent years honing my craft through a lot of trial and error. I use hand tools almost exclusively, saddle stitching everything by hand. In a past life, I worked as an English teacher abroad for 5 years. I learned a lot about how best to break down complexities of a subject and pass them on to students

Courses, kits & gifts

bronze award

Manchester

2 Day Deep Dive 1-on-1 Beginners Course in Leathercraft

2 days

Next date: 1st Feb 2025

1 place left

(1)

£550.00

bronze award

Manchester

2 Day Leather Watch Strap Making Deep Dive Course

2 days

Next date: 1st Feb 2025

2 places left

£400.00

bronze award

Manchester

Epsom Leather Slim Folding Card Wallet in the French Tradition

8 hours

Next date: 1st Feb 2025

3 places left

(1)

£190.00

Recent reviews

All maker's reviews

26 Jan 25'

Denise reviewed: 2 Day Deep Dive 1-on-1 Beginners Course in Leathercraft

"Joseph is one of the most knowledgeable, kind, and patient teachers that I ever met. He is humble and happy to share the wealth of knowledge he accumulated over the years without hesitation if you allow him. I have a Masters Degree in a very important (and expensive) Italian Fashion School based in London. The majority of the tutors just lack of this level of skills. His attention to detail is just amazing. He’ll push you towards your limits if he thinks you’re capable of. He has great communication ability and can adapt the course more or less for your needs if you ask. I guarantee you’ll feel capable of doing a lot in leathercrafting after completing your course with him. I couldn’t recommend more!"

14 Dec 24'

Max N. reviewed: Epsom Leather Slim Folding Card Wallet in the French Tradition

"Spent the day with Joe making a fantastic leather card holder. The lesson was an excellent way to learn some of the fundamentals of leather work whilst producing a truly professional piece. I was happy to find that the course was a challenge and not oversimplified so I had a genuine sense of accomplishment at the end of it. Joe was informative, helpful and kept the brews coming through the day which was needed!"

Awlmark Leather responded:

"Thank you for your review Max. You did an excellent job and it was a pleasure to deliver this introductory deep dive into the world of leather crafting. I'm confident that you have a good grasp of the skills needed to tackle this project again on your own if you wanted to"