Handmade in Devon. Rooted in tradition. Built to last.
In recent years, the phrase “Make It British” has grown from a nostalgic nod to our manufacturing heritage into a powerful movement. It celebrates the makers, workshops, tanneries and small businesses keeping British craftsmanship alive. And in the world of leatherwork, a discipline defined by feel, skill, patience and tradition, the importance of making in Britain has never been clearer.
At Tanner Bates, our workshop in South Devon reflects many of the values championed by the movement: traceable materials, traditional methods, small-batch production and a genuine commitment to making things properly. Here’s why “Make It British” truly matters in leatherwork, for makers, for customers, and for the future of the craft.
1. Because British Leatherwork Is Built on Genuine Craft, Not Mass Production
British leatherwork has never been about speed. It has always been about doing it right.
Workshops like ours use time-honoured techniques drawn from saddlery, careful cutting, hand-finishing, edge burnishing, solid brass hardware, and full-grain vegetable tanned leather that becomes more beautiful with use.
In an age of conveyor belts and fast fashion, a UK workshop stands out precisely because it is not a factory.
Every cut, stitch and buckle is placed by a craftsperson, not a machine.
That’s the heart of “Make It British”: choosing skill over speed, quality over quantity.
2. Because UK Leather Has Traceability You Can Trust
One of the movement’s biggest strengths is its focus on transparency.
British makers can tell you exactly where their materials come from, and why.
At Tanner Bates, that means sourcing full-grain leather from trusted British and Italian tanneries, including oak bark tanned hide from J & FJ Baker & Co., Britain’s last remaining traditional oak bark tannery, in Devon.
This is leather made the slow way, naturally, responsibly, and with heritage techniques that simply don’t exist at industrial scale.
When you buy UK-made, you support shorter supply chains, verifiable sourcing, and materials chosen for longevity, not cost-cutting.
3. Because Small UK Workshops Keep Heritage Skills Alive
Many of the skills used in British leatherwork trace back through generations of saddlers, harness makers and craftspeople.
These skills survive only when they are practiced.
And they are practiced in small, independent UK workshops, not factories overseas.
By supporting “Make It British” makers, customers help protect the techniques that define traditional leathercraft:
edge bevelling
burnishing
saddle stitching by hand
cutting each individual strap from full-grain hide
These cannot be replicated by machinery. They need hands, skilled, trained, patient hands.
4. Shout-Out: The Work Make It British Is Doing
A huge part of the reason the movement has momentum is thanks to Make It British, the platform led by Kate Hills that puts UK makers, manufacturers and artisans front and centre.
British factories, workshops and makers
Ethical manufacturing
Sustainable alternatives to fast fashion
Guidance for brands wanting to source UK production
Success stories and interviews with small workshops
They’ve built a community that champions the value of making locally and responsibly, giving visibility to companies like ours, and helping consumers understand what “Made in Britain” truly means.
For small craft businesses, Make It British is more than a directory; it’s a voice, a platform, and a much-needed reminder that British manufacturing is worth fighting for.
(We’ll definitely be tagging them when we share this!)
5. Because British-Made Means Honest Materials
British leatherwork is refreshingly transparent:
No bonded leather pretending to be real.
No synthetic coatings disguised as premium.
No split hide sold as full-grain.
When you buy from a UK maker, you see the leather’s natural grain, its markings, its character, because nothing is hidden.
The patina you develop over time is the proof of authenticity, not a manufactured finish.
6. Because UK Makers Support Each Other
One of the most powerful elements of the “Make It British” movement is the sense of community among makers.
Leatherworkers, ceramicists, tailors, metalworkers, woodworkers, different crafts, shared values.
Celebrating other UK makers helps all of us:
it keeps consumers aware of the value of British craft
it strengthens the network of small workshops
it encourages businesses to collaborate, not compete
it ensures the next generation can see a viable career in craft
When the movement thrives, so does the entire ecosystem of British craftsmanship.
7. Because Buying British Supports Sustainable Values
UK workshops generally produce in small batches.
They don’t over-produce, over-stock, or waste material.
And because the leather supply chain is shorter and more transparent, environmental impact is reduced compared to global shipping and mass production.
Choosing a UK-made leather belt or bag means choosing:
fewer miles
better traceability
repairability instead of replacement
a longer product lifespan
Sustainability isn’t a marketing angle, it’s the natural result of making things slowly and properly.
8. Because British Leather Goods Are Gifts With Heart
A handmade belt or wallet crafted in a small UK workshop carries meaning beyond the object itself.
It represents a connection, to the maker, to the materials, to the tradition behind it.
In a world of anonymous, factory-made gifts, there’s something deeply human about giving something that has been cut, stitched and finished by a real craftsperson in a Devon workshop.
“Make It British” Isn’t a Trend, It’s a Return to What Matters
In leatherwork, “Make It British” means choosing authenticity over imitation, tradition over mass production, and craft over convenience.
It means valuing the work of small workshops, the quiet skill of artisans, and the heritage of UK tanning and leathercraft.
At Tanner Bates, we’re proud to be part of that story, to make belts, bags and accessories slowly, properly, and with the kind of care that lasts a lifetime.
Supporting British makers isn’t just good for the industry.
It’s good for craft, good for sustainability, and good for the soul.
