Way before the dawn of YouTube tutorials, Xie Hui was already looking up books and magazines to DIY his own leather accessories and eventually opened his own leathercraft studio in 2008.
Xie and his team of five regularly impart leathercraft knowledge to budding makers in their workshops, where you make and bring home products that range from coin pouches to watch straps to cuffs that double up as smartphone stands and cardholders – no prior experience needed as they’ll guide you from cutting to finishing.
That said, leathercraft is not for the time-starved. Depending on the complexity of the item you’re making, a session can take anywhere from 2 to 4 hours. For a truly handmade experience, Xie will even teach you how to construct your own wallet or handbag, but it’s not a piece of cake: it takes a few sessions before you can walk away with a one-of-a-kind piece.