WHO AM I?

Greg Wood Leather was formerly established in 2015 and specialises in producing leatherware of the highest quality in his studio on the Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia.  Greg is a skilled artisan who also has a flair for sketching and painting. In fact he is capable of turning his hands to many and varied mediums including wood and building products.  Personalised and attentive customer service is provided at all times.

DESIGN

There is nothing more unique than a personalised leather product. Armed with our innovative tools, you can design your own from concept to creation. Greg Wood Leather articles are individually handmade by Greg himself. The benefit of ordering products direct from the source is that, not only do you receive a truly personalised experience, you also have the opportunity to request something totally bespoke and special to you.  Every piece is handmade, using only the finest materials sourced as locally as our supply chains will allow. Our artistry is based on combining the traditional techniques of leather craft and a modern design aesthetic where functionality is key, bringing ownership of craft back to the individual and ensuring that every piece holds a unique bond to the creator and the maker. Our philosophy is simple – to provide unique hand-crafted products that will reflect your particular tastes and perferences. I receive great pleasure out of creating and manufacturing unique items, but experience a greater joy when customers receive a genuine leather article that suits their lifestyle and will mature into a glorious supple piece, developing a warm and brilliant patina that becomes more intense with the passing of time and daily use.

Y O U R  L E A T H E R:

Greg Wood Leather items are made using the best leathers we can find. Every hide is unique and has tonal variations, small marks or scars are natural features and should not be considered faults. Vegetable tanned leather is an age old traditional tanning method, so the tanneries who supply our beautiful vegetable tanned leathers have very skilled craftsmen producing and dyeing the leather. These full grain leathers have no synthetic covering and are sensitively finished by hand. Due to the natural tannins used, our leathers develop and change over time, darkening and creating their own unique patina.  The ageing process of our leathers gradually enhances the personality of your product and shouldn't be avoided. The reason our materials are so valued is because they require much more time and skill to develop than their processed cousins. 

Chromed leather has been treated with a mixture of oil and wax during the tanning process.  It is naturally water and stain resistant - making it a truly rugged and durable leather.  Small surface scratches during daily wear can be easily wiped away with a gentle cloth or with your index finger and a little elbow grease!  Due to the nature and saturation of the hide, our black oil tan leathers may transfer some colour onto lighter items of clothing during your first few weeks of wear.  Please be mindful of how you wear your black bag during the breaking in process.   

L E A T H E R  C A R E:

Your vegetable tanned leather items will require a little care. All items have been coated with a gentle protection cream, however it is important that you follow the guidelines below.

For the first month of actual use, avoid taking the item out in wet weather. This should give the fibres sufficient time to become more flexible and therefore less likely to react to water.

After the first month of use any spots of water or rain can be gently wiped into the leather, rather than allowing droplets to just sit on the surface. When your item is new please be aware that excess dye may still be on the outside edges. If you wish to clean your item, you can purchase a cream from various online leather care outlets, please ask if you'd like our suggestions. Always use a neutral, rather than a particular colour (which will contain a dye) and test on an inconspicuous area of the article.

Be aware that the leathers are dyed and, as such, for the first few wears they may transfer a small amount of colour onto clothing. This is a typical characteristic of vegetable tanned leathers and will mean that your product ages beautifully. 

Our natural (nude) leather products will develop a patina over time resulting in a darker, uneven coloration. Leather fans will recognise this as the ultimate sign of quality, the process itself can be quickened but should not and cannot be avoided. 

Unlike vegetable tanned leather, chrome tanned leather has the lubricating oils fixed in the hide during the tanning process. The care regime is therefore more relative to maintaining the finish rather than the hide itself. The use of alkaline cleaning products such as saddle soap or pure soap is not suitable as it will damage the finish. Since the finish on chrome tanned leather is there to provide a protective layer, the use of ‘conditioners’ is not appropriate but products which provide protection to the finish are recommended.

Y O U R  H A R D W A R E:

All of the hardware on our bags is made from solid brass. This means it will therefore darken over time as the metal oxidises in the atmosphere. This will not damage the hardware but should you wish to polish it back up again then you can use any readily available brass polish, just make sure that you protect the leather first by covering with a protective cloth.

Stainless steel hardware is the desired hardware when a silver look is required for black leather items (if required).

SEWING AND THREAD

The Hand Stitching technique used at Greg Wood Leather is a feature of the designs and products, not just a necessary component of the construction process. This captures the aesthetics and durability that only hand stitching can achieve. The thread used is a Waxed Braided Polyester .08mm, claimed to be one of the World's best and is a product of Germany.

O T H E R  I N F O R M A T I O N:

Do not store near heat as this could, and probably will, dry out the leather. Leather is a natural material and with use, your product will develop some marks or scratches. Don't try and avoid this - it will gradually wear in the leather and add to the bag’s uniqueness. Care should also be taken to avoid colour transfer from dark clothing onto light leathers and also from dark leathers onto light coloured clothing during an initial wearing-in phase. Your product should provide many years of use. If you experience any problems with it, or simply require advice regarding its care, please contact Greg Wood Leather.