General News

Tribute Leather offers hand-crafted, hand-stitched, and beautiful leather goods

April 20, 2023   ·   0 Comments

By Brian Lockhart

When it comes to products that are stylish and durable, nothing beats real leather.

Properly made leather products can last a lifetime and still look good while providing a practical solution for many requirements like carrying cases and wallets to clothing.

Kelly Corey of Tribute Leather, is a local craftsman and artisan who creates various products by hand, using skill, precision, an artistic eye, and a knowledge of working with different types of leather.

“We like to say our products are refined, distinct, and versatile,” Kelly said of the items he makes in the leather workshop of his Alliston home. “Refined is how we make things, distinct is because they stand out and are unique, and versatile because we make some things that are meant to be used and not just placed on a shelf somewhere.”

Kelly started off doing woodworking as a craft. One day he was given some scrap leather and became intrigued by what he could do with the pieces. When he made his first leather-crafted piece, he said, “I was hooked right away.”

From there, he started learning how to work with leather and the techniques used to cut, stitch, and add the finishing touches to create a variety of different items.

As his work progressed, he gathered the necessary tools for cutting, shaping, and stitching leather, as well as accessories like buckles and clasps.

Working mostly with cow leather, he also uses goat and pig leather, which have a different feel and can work well with some products.

“We use mostly cow skin,” Kelly explained. “Goat skin is quite nice. It’s soft but very durable. Pig skin is very durable. We do some small things like wallets, handbags, and tote bags.”

He also makes larger and specialty items. For example, Kelly made a chef’s knife roll, specifically designed to hold a set of knives for a professional chef who required a proper leather case for his expensive knives. “He wanted a custom roll,” Kelly recalled. “He said the ones you buy in the store don’t last, he wanted something where he could trust putting his valuable equipment into this case.”

Kelly’s work is detailed and crafted with quality construction. The pieces are hand-stitched and finished with piping where practical to add a finish to their edges.

“I try to make each piece as close to perfect as I can, every time,” he said of his dedication and passion for his work.”

Kelly puts a lot of planning into things like the design and versatility of each piece.

It takes a lot of practice to learn how to cut leather into proper shapes and develop the technique of using a knife blade for the correct angle or even just cutting a straight line.

Leather products last for decades or longer and are very durable as well as fashionable.

Supporting local artisans who put a lot of time and effort into their products helps the local economy and provides you with quality goods you won’t find anywhere else.

Kelly can be found at select vendor markets through the summer, or you can learn more about Tribute Leather by visiting their Facebook Page: facebook.com/tributeleather2017/

Readers Comments (0)