KINGSMERE CRAFTS

Tanners and leather suppliers - continued

www.Italian-Fashion.It:- E-mail: leatherstocklot@yahoo.it. This company specializes in offering stock lots of leather and shoe components. This is constantly changing so a regular visit is recommended. Leather is available in lots, small pieces in large bags with large pieces and full skins by weight, strapped to pallets. (Pictures of a selection of prepared pallet loads are viewable on site). Note: It is not possible to purchase individual skins or hides. The shoe components also vary, but mainly refer to soles and again, purchase is by bulk. There is a large range of colours and types of leather in each batch, so it could be useful to colleges, schools and training establishments. Another option is for a group of amateur leather workers to share a pallet of leather. Prices are available from them. (See also 'Italian-Fashion It., C S Osborne & Co, 'Trade Suppliers' Here). Website http://www.italian-footwear.it

Kershaws Tannery:- Water Street, Portwood, Stockport SK1 2BP, UK. Tel: +44-161-480-3423 or Fax: +44-161-480-8106. E-mail: office@kershawleather.com. Contact: Edward Kershaw. This company is one of the last tanneries still operating in the UK. It was established in 1855 and specialises in ‘clothing leather’ which it produces to a very high standard using only the finest nappa's, aniline and nubuck. They also produce high quality sheepskin rugs and throws as well as chrome-free leather which is particularly suitable for clothing and children's shoes. They offer a consultancy service to their customers. Hours of Opening:- Monday - Friday 9.30am - 5.00pm, Saturday 10am - 5.00pm, Sunday:- Closed. Large free Car Park. Junction of 27M60 (W) Junction 26M60(E). Next to Tesco's Extra, Stockport. Website http://www.kershawleather.com

Leathersmith Designs Inc:- 88 Woodlawn Road, Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, B2W 2S5, Canada. Tel: 1-800-845-1829 (Canada & United States)1-902-434-9721. Fax: 1-902-434-9721. Normally Open Monday - Friday 9am - 5pm Atlantic Standard Time. E-mail: sales@leathersmithdesigns.com. Contact: Jamie Hartling. (President). This company carries a large variety of skins and hides including natural tooling cow hide, horse hide and garment cowhide.

Jamie Hartling - President
Gail Hartling - Vice-president Gerald Hartling - Sales

Some of their leather craft supplies stocked for people doing leather craft and leather work are leather hide and leather lace, leather craft tools, solid brass belt buckles, metal steel strap buckles, rapid rivets, leather craft hardware and leather dyes. They are one of the main suppliers leather hobbyists in Canada. (See also ‘Trade Suppliers’ Here). Website http://www.leathersmithdesigns.com
Leather Suede, Skins Inc:- 261 West 35th Street, New York, NY 10001, USA. Tel: (212) 967-6616. Fax: (212) 546-5759. E-mail: nyleather@att.net. Contact: Faina Golub. This is New York's leading supplier and is known worldwide within the industry for their large, inspiring, selection of skins. They supply the garment, accessories, shoe, plus home markets. Get leather and suede from stock, or order, in a variety of colours, lambskin, pigskin, cowhide, deerskin and goatskin in different finishes.

Tibetan Lamb colours

Prints, perforations and embossings, also patent, metallics, etc. Leather trimmings, rabbit skins, fox, mink, Tibetan lamb. Also exotics such as alligator, ostrich, python and snakeskin. Website http://www.leathersuedeskins.com

G H Leathers Ltd. Associate Company:- Unit 10, Woodley's Yard, Newton Road, Higham Ferrers, Northants NN10 8HW, UK. Tel: +44 (0) 1933 311116. Fax: +44 (0) 1933 311176. E-mail: sales@leathermerchants.com. Contacts: Ian, Amos, or John. This go-ahead modern company was only founded in 1998 but has rapidly grown into a major supplier of a wide range of leathers. They supply leather for clothing, shoes, upholstery, interior design, etc. They also provide leather for colleges, schools and universities offering fashion and design courses and diplomas. Their main specialty is sheepskin and they offer a wide selection from many countries. They are now stocking a new range of exotic leathers from MPL in Thailand and will in future offer the entire range. Website http://www.leathermerchants.com Note. UK customers and european countries (without an MPL representative) are advised to contact the above company rather than contact MPL direct. These leathers are in short supply and MPL require large shipping orders to make export practical and these take time to fill. Nor are they keen to ship samples, due to shipping costs, without a firm order or payment for shipping them. G H Leathers now carry stocks of these leathers and are prepared to show samples to prospective customers. These leathers are from animals and fish that form part of the food chain in the region they come from. The skins are part of the waste product.

Metropolitan Leather Co. Ltd:- Unit 1B, Cottingham Way, Thrapston, Northants. NN14 4PL, UK. Tel: +44 (0)1832 732216. Fax: +44 (0)1832 732808. Email: info@metropolitanleather.com.

Leather Sales - David Bryant

Leather Sales - Roy Winnard

Leather Cutting - John Houghton

Administration - Sue White

The Metropolitan Leather Company holds one of the widest ranges of leathers available in the UK. Their helpful staff will be pleased to see you and guide you through the range should you wish to visit them. Quantities are no problem, from one skin to larger pallet loads. As well as a standard colour range, their finishing department can produce shades to match your patterns. They have a large stock of budget priced leathers and these are so wide in range that a visit usually results in buyers finding their exact requirements. The cutting department can cut leather into straps and shapes to your patterns and can incorporate tooling charges into the price. They have supplied leather for Elephant Harnesses, Camel Racing Saddles, Black Jack Tarred Leather Tankards, Hot Air Balloon Basket Edging, Antique Reproduction Fire Buckets, Pig Skin Leather Hood for a Bugatti Car, and leather for restoration of Antique Artefacts from a stately home. No matter how unusual your request Metropolitan will be able to meet your requirements, as they are able to supply leather in any quantity, thickness, colour, texture or size. Website http://www.metropolitanleather.com A W Midgley & Son Ltd:- 13 Cheddar Business Park, Wedmore Road, Cheddar, Somerset, BS27 3EB, UK. Tel: +44 (0) 01934 741741. Fax: +44 (0) 01934 741555. The company was founded in April 1921 by Arthur Walter Midgley, the grandfather of Simon and Andrew and great-grandfather of James and William the present directors. Midgley’s are leather suppliers, supplying quality leather hides to a wide variety of trades for more than sixty years. Whether it’s panel leather hides for saddles, automotive leather hides for car trimmers or natural vegetable tanned leathers for leathercrafts and leather carving, you will be able to find what you need.

The company services many different leather users including saddlers, shoe, belt, bag and clothing manufacturers from their large stocks of leather. All customers are welcome to call at the warehouse in Cheddar, Somerset. If you are unable to visit they are always pleased to deal with your request over the phone, by e-mail (using quick mail form on the website), fax or post. Website http://www.awmidgley.co.uk/
Andrew Muirhead & Son Ltd. (Tanner):- Dalmarnock Leather Works, 273-289 Dunn Street, Glasgow, Scotland G40 3EA. Tel: +44 (0) 141-554-3724. Fax: +44 (0) 141-554-4741. E-mail: lang@muirhead.co.uk. Contact: James Lang. The company's history can be traced back to 1758. In 1870 the company moved to its present site, Dalmarnock Works, formerly a flax and jute mill. Since that time the company concentrated its production of upholstery leathers in conjunction with case, bag and shoe leathers. Over time the company's upholstery leather achieved worldwide recognition and is presently exported to over 30 countries. Case, bag and shoe leathers were phased out of production in the 1960's to allow the company to meet the demand for its high performance leathers. In 1968 Andrew Muirhead & Son, now a limited company, completed the formation of the Scottish Leather Group, a privately owned company with five specialist leather manufacturing subsidiaries, whose aim it is to achieve the highest standard of craftsmanship and quality. Today the company is acknowledged as the largest supplier of quality upholstery leathers to the airline industry, supplying over forty airline and aircraft manufacturers globally. Upholstery leathers for quality contract and domestic seating and specialist automotive application still remain the largest proportion of production with many bespoke and specialist applications also being catered for. The company is a member of the Scottish Tanning Industries Group. They produce a vast range of specialist furnishing leathers. They offer a standard collection (over 100 shades, and will sell from 1 hide up to any quantity). If you can't find what you want, then they will make it. They provide cutting facilities, foil or blind blocking, for designs up to 1000 x 500 mm. Samples can be viewed on line. Website http://www.muirhead.co.uk

Pittards Plc. (Tanner):- Sherborne Road, Yeovil, Somerset BA21 5BA, England. Tel: +44 (0) 1935 474321, Fax: +44 (0) 1935 427145. E-mail: yeovil_reception@pittards.com. An old established reliable and efficient UK company producing leather for the leathergoods, saddlery and glove industries. Pittards reputation for World Class Leather has seen their leather skins and leather hides used by the world's leading brands of leather gloves, leather handbags, luxury leathergoods and home furnishings. Website http://www.pittardsleather.co.uk
Relics Of Witney (Leathers for Desks):- 35 Bridge Street, Witney, Oxon. OX28 1DA, UK. Tel: +44 (0) 1993 704611, Fax: +44 (0) 1993 899870. E-mail: info@leathersfordesks.co.uk. Contact: Bret Wiles. The Leather Collection from Relics for Desks, Tables and Writing Slopes. Top quality (sheep) skivers are used, plus a good selection of colours. They cut panels to customer's requirements and gold block or blind block to order.

There is a comprehensive selection of edge patterns. Space between the pattern and the edge of the leather is allowed for trimming to an exact fit in the recess. Information on measuring and fitting is provided. Hides for upholstery and large desks are available. This is an ideal service for furniture restorers. Website http://www.leathersfordesks.co.uk
Samuel Sharp (Curriers) Ltd:- The Stocks, Cosgrove, Milton Keynes MK19 7JD, UK. Tel: 01908-560179. Fax: 01908-260285. E-mail: sales@claytonleather.com. Contact: Roger Dear (Manager). A company with an extraordinary history, founded in 1600 by the Penn family (who founded the State of Pennsylvania, USA). There is much more on this subject for researchers, so visit their site. The company still trades in the same area today. With a reputation for high quality equestrian leather. All bridle leather is hand curried and finished. They are well known for the Butts and Backs they produce in various weights and shades for specific purposes at the same time holding the view that pit tanned vegetable leather from domestic hides is to be preferred. Website http://www.sharpleather.com/
Scottish Leather Group Ltd:- (formerly Scottish Tanning Industries Ltd.) 1 Seedhill, Paisley, Renfrewshire PA1 1JL, Scotland. Tel: +44 (0) 141 847 4520, Fax: +44 (0) 141 848 7246. The are the largest manufacturer of bovine leather in the United Kingdom. The Group comprises of four leather manufacturing subsidiaries, all located in the west of Scotland: Andrew Muirhead and Son Ltd, Bridge of Weir Leather Company Ltd, W J and W Lang Ltd, and NCT Leather Ltd. The member companies of the Group are well established with a combined experience in tanning and finishing leather of over 470 years. Their specialist leathers are produced for a wide range of industries: automotive, furniture, marine, aviation, shoe and leathergoods. The Group export sales represent over 70% of turnover. (See Here.) Website http://www.scottishleathergroup.com/

J & E Sedgwick & Co Ltd:- Reservoir Place, Pleck, Walsall, West Midlands WS2 9RX, UK. Tel: 01922 622 797 0900. Email: sales@je-sedgwick.co.uk. Opening hours: 9:00am - 1:00pm and 1:30pm - 4:30pm. Specialist leather suppliers dealing with equestrian leather, tanned leather and leather saddles. The business of J & E Sedgwick & Co. Ltd leather suppliers was founded in 1900 by James and Emmanuel Sedgwick, who were later joined by Richard Farrow, grandfather of the present day Managing Director. Sedgwick's began supplying leather to the equestrian trade in 1900, and a century on is one of the leading leather suppliers of equestrian leather in the UK.

J & E Sedgwick leathers

The company bases its early success on the established UK market, but in recent years has expanded into the growing export market, becoming one of the worldwide leather suppliers. The management and staff at Sedgwick's are committed to providing a service both in the UK and around the world, to produce top quality goods for customers requiring the finest English leather, making them one of the leaders in leather suppliers for the equestrian leather trade. Their after sales service caters for the needs of customers requiring help and understanding with any queries they might have regarding leather and the products we supply. Website http://www.je-sedgwick.co.uk/jes/4230/index/


Jamie Hartling - President	Gail Hartling - Vice-president	Gerald Hartling - Sales


Leather Sales - David Bryant	Leather Sales - Roy Winnard	Leather Cutting - John Houghton	Administration - Sue White