Exotic Leather Blog

When you’re shopping for crocodile skin, the size and grade of the skins you buy is a major factor. There are many applications where you might need a large skin, and many where a skin that is too large would be a bit of a waste. Also, some applications require the entirety of the crocodile skin you use to be as pristine , while others may allow you to work around defects in the hide.

Pan American Leathers is dedicated to providing top-quality exotic leathers from ethical and sustainable sources. One of the popular emerging exotic leather options is the American crocodile skin—otherwise known as the “acutus crocodile” or scientific name of crocodylus acutus.

The Brooklyn Shoe Space is a membership-based shared work space for shoemakers and leather workers alike to gather, share tips and get down to work on their latest leather and shoe projects. For people who want some studio time, the Brooklyn Shoe Space lets members schedule hourly sessions during the week. On weekends, the space is open to both members and the public from 11:00 am to 7:00 pm. While at the Brooklyn Shoe Space, aspiring leather and shoemakers have access to the studio floor, tools and expert supervision from an experienced shoemaker.

Finding a school to help you learn how to work with leather can be tough. This is why the team here at PanAm Leathers is putting together a list of schools that offer an education in crafting leather goods. For the next stop in PanAm Leathers’ tour of leather craft education, we’d like to introduce you to the Chicago School of Shoemaking & Leather Arts.

Tandy Leather has been supplying leather, tools, kits and instructional materials and experiences to leather craftsmen since 1919, through hundreds of brick-and-mortar locations and their website. The company also holds numerous leather crafting classes at different sites around the country to help up-and-coming leather designers learn specific skills.

In our previous “Get a Leather Craft Education” article, we talked at length about The Shoe Surgeon School, which focused on the crafting of shoes specifically, and only focused on leather as a portion of the shoemaking process. Today, we’re going to be talking about a school closely related to April in Paris, Amblard Leather Atelier.

Tapping into the footwear craze of the past decade, Dominic Chambrone's Shoe Surgeon School has emerged as one of the most popular and influential leather craft schools internationally. 

The school is an event-based course that gives learners a chance to get hands-on lessons for working with and crafting shoes. As noted on their “About Us” page, the core values of the school are self-expression, empowerment and community.

Through the classes at The Shoe Surgeon School, you can learn how to establish and express your artistic vision while participating in a communal event where you can inspire and be inspired by others.

If you’re an aspiring designer or craftsman who wants to learn to work with leather, where can you go to learn? Of course, you won’t find classes on working with exotic leather or how to treat metallic or veg-tanned skins at your average community college! To help steer you in the right direction, we have assembled a list of reputable schools that focus on leather craft. We will dive into the differences between the schools, including location, focus, schedule and cost, so you can pick whatever works best for you.  

Designers were on their way to the American West for the Fall collections. They had their cowboy hats, Canadian tuxedos and fringe vests packed and ready. Although something happened and they took an unexpected detour.

This time, to Rodeo Drive.

For years, the most popular animal print in fashion has been leopard. High-end designers have transformed this, at times, kitschy trend into a luxury staple in the form of any and all ready-to-wear and accessory items (from coats, to blouses, to handbags and more). The print has taken over their runways and trickled down to the streets—landing on some of the most recognizable street style stars from Giovanna Battaglia to Bella Hadid. For the fun, urban, club girl, leopard is it… but where is the more polished woman to turn if she wants to tap into an animal print for a day at the office?