The Journal

Notes on craft, material, and the industry from the Insignis Leathers workshop. Written by founder Michael Airey.

Two things are true of the leather goods industry at once, and most of the conversation only ever mentions one. Where volume production and durable, made-to-order craft actually sit.

The saddle stitch is named for what it was built to survive. Its origins, and why it never got replaced by machine stitching.

A material-performance comparison of vegetable-tanned leather and PU leather, and what each is actually built to do.