Making Buckleather
I create exceptional leather goods by hand, shaped by a lifetime dedicated to the traditions of English saddlery. Each piece is crafted using time-honoured tools and the finest leathers, selected for their character, strength, and ability to age with distinction.
Rooted in heritage yet refined for today, my work reflects a quiet commitment to craftsmanship—where every detail serves both purpose and beauty. These are objects made not for fashion, but for a lifetime of use, to be handled, relied upon, and passed on.
I create exceptional leather goods by hand, shaped by a lifetime dedicated to the traditions of English saddlery. Each piece is crafted using time-honoured tools and the finest leathers, selected for their character, strength, and ability to age with distinction.
Rooted in heritage yet refined for today, my work reflects a quiet commitment to craftsmanship—where every detail serves both purpose and beauty. These are objects made not for fashion, but for a lifetime of use, to be handled, relied upon, and passed on.
My beginnings lie in rural Norfolk, in a family where craftsmanship was not simply a skill, but a way of life. From an early age, I was drawn to making with my hands. At eleven, I encountered the world of leather through a local shooting club, where the quality and purpose of the equipment left a lasting impression.
It was there that I was introduced to traditional saddlery techniques by a working craftsman, and over the following years I learned the discipline, patience, and precision that embody the trade.
A defining moment came with the acquisition of a set of antique saddler’s tools, including a round knife dated 1890 and a plough gauge marked “J. Buck.” These tools remain part of my workshop today—linking past to present and shaping the way I continue to work.
My father, himself a skilled craftsman, demanded exacting standards. His guidance instilled in me a lifelong respect for detail and the understanding that true quality reveals itself in what others might overlook.
At seventeen, I moved to London to train at the renowned Cordwainers Technical College, founded in 1877. There, I undertook formal training in leather goods production, followed by specialist study in rural saddlery and harness making.
I was awarded the College Diploma, alongside full City & Guilds qualifications across the trade, including certification from the Worshipful Company of Loriners. My work was further recognised with a Bursary from the Worshipful Company of Saddlers of the City of London, awarded for distinction in saddlery—an honour presented at Saddlers’ Hall that remains a defining moment in my career.
Over the decades that followed, I have worked across the leather trade—as a pattern cutter, sample maker, factory manager, and independent maker—supplying clients and exhibiting at leading country events. Recognition has often come quietly, including being identified years later by a former tutor solely through the standard of my work.
I was awarded the College Diploma, alongside full City & Guilds qualifications across the trade, including certification from the Worshipful Company of Loriners. My work was further recognised with a Bursary from the Worshipful Company of Saddlers of the City of London, awarded for distinction in saddlery—an honour presented at Saddlers’ Hall that remains a defining moment in my career.
Over the decades that followed, I have worked across the leather trade—as a pattern cutter, sample maker, factory manager, and independent maker—supplying clients and exhibiting at leading country events. Recognition has often come quietly, including being identified years later by a former tutor solely through the standard of my work.
Today, I work from my workshop, creating a limited number of pieces using the finest materials and traditional methods. Each item is made with care, precision, and an understanding of how it will be used and lived with over time.
These are pieces intended to endure—to develop character, to carry history, and to become part of the life of their owner.
In the end, my work is defined by a simple principle: to make something of lasting value, by hand, and to make it well.
Kevin Buck
Buckleather