News


Leatherworking training bursaries now available from UK charity


Heritage Crafts, the national UK charity for traditional heritage crafts, is making training bursaries worth up to £4,000 available for new entrants and early- career craftspeople experiencing financial hardship. The bursaries for leatherworking are sponsored by the Leathersellers’ Foundation and the British Leather Industry Development Trust and are part of a suite of grants, awards and bursaries.


Many people are dissuaded from training in heritage crafts because of the cost, and therefore the make-up of the sector is not truly representative of the mix of backgrounds that make up the UK as a whole. This bursary has been set up to help cover or subsidise the cost of training for someone who would otherwise be prevented from pursuing this career path as a result of the cost. Bursaries are for:


■ new entrants who have demonstrated a commitment to starting a new craft career and need to acquire the necessary hand skills


■ early-career practitioners who have not yet attained the hand skills required to achieve commercial success; or


■ early or mid-career craftspeople who need to acquire distinctly different hand skills to develop new ways of achieving commercial success.


A bursary can cover or contribute towards the costs of: ■ apprenticeship-style training with a craftsperson/people


■ attending a specialist training course (accredited or non-accredited)


■ undertaking a self-directed programme of training with one or more craftspeople


■ the cost of specialist tools or materials, books or study materials, or supporting travel and accommodation (no more than 30% of total budget).


The bursary cannot be used for general living expenses, research, promotional activities or anything else. Leatherworking crafts are those that feature leather as a primary material. They can include but are not limited to saddlery, shoemaking, harness making, tanning, fashion, accessory making, and so on. Successful applicants will be supported by the Heritage Crafts team to develop an action plan. The organisation will work with them to monitor progress and support them to achieve their aims To apply, head to www.heritagecrafts. org.uk/our-stories/announcements/ leatherworking-bursaries. Assessment, shortlisting and final selection will be carried out by the Heritage Crafts judging team, and interviews will be carried out by Zoom.


Applications are open until 5pm on Friday 7 March 2025. Heritage Crafts works in partnership with government and key agencies. It provides a focus for craftspeople, groups, societies and guilds, as well as individuals who care about the loss of traditional crafts skills.


Jaguar joins the Leather


Working Group Jaguar Land Rover (JLR), a global leader in luxury automotive manufacturing, has joined the Leather Working Group (LWG), an organisation dedicated to promoting sustainable and responsible practices within the leather industry.


Andrea Debanne, chief sustainability officer, JLR, said: “Through becoming a member of the LWG, JLR can help promote the highest standards in leather production and sustainable development, in line with our Reimagine strategy, which aims to set new benchmarks in environmental societal and community impact for a luxury business. This means committing to transparency, social responsibility and environmental stewardship, and ensuring full traceability in all our material sourcing, including leather.” By joining the LWG, JLR is aligning with industry leaders committed to advancing environmental best practices in leather production. The LWG emphasises transparency as a cornerstone of responsible leather sourcing. Through this membership, JLR reaffirms its commitment to supporting the development of tools that drive continuous improvement and create a positive impact across the leather industry. The LWG is a global multi-stakeholder community, working to create meaningful change across the global leather supply chain. Stakeholders include actors from all parts of the leather supply chain, representing all industries where leather is used. The community works together in a pre-competitive way to make responsible leather production and sourcing a reality. First formed in 2005, the organisation has evolved to represent more than 2,000 stakeholders in over 60 countries. Its executive committee is elected to represent sectors within the leather industry and provide strategic guidance.


Ownever care collection extends product lifespan


Sustainable and ethical luxury leather bag maker Ownever has launched a new leather care collection that extends the lifespan of leather items – regardless of the brand. The range includes: Suede renewer, which restores the colour and texture of suede and nubuck; Saddle soap, which provides gentle yet effective cleaning, removing dirt while protecting the leather’s integrity; leather polisher, which adds a natural shine and enhances the elegance of each piece, maintaining softness and comfort; and smooth leather cleaner,


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which offers efficient cleaning while protecting and softening smooth leather. The new line is part of a broader programme that includes Ownever’s repair service. This initiative not only provides repair services for Ownever’s own bags but also for items from other brands. The company said that the new collection “transforms the task of cleaning and caring for leather items into a true ritual. Whether it’s revitalising a bag that has accompanied countless adventures or restoring the shine of a pair of shoes that


witnessed special moments, each product was created to help customers care for their items.”


“All leather items have stories to tell,” said Eliana Barros, founder of Ownever. “With the right care, those stories can continue to be written, rather than discarded. This collection is about empowering anyone to extend the life of their leather items, whether they are from Ownever or another brand.” The products can be purchased at ownever.com, with prices starting at €29.


Leather International / www.leathermag.com


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