Meet the Maker | High Country Leather

Drop into Handmade in the Hunter Markets this month (see page 8) to discover a thriving artisan market where you can meet makers like Chris from High Country Leather!

HVMAG: Can you please tell us a bit about what you do? How did you come up with the idea?

CHRIS: Back in the 1980s, I bought my first genuine leather belt. It lasted 20 years (I was skinny then!). When it finally gave out, I thought, "I'll get another one!" But I couldn't find one to buy in any of the shops for any money, so I did a couple of courses and learned how to make leather gear myself. After that, I started running our market stall, and more than ten years later, I still am!

HVMAG: What types of products do you sell? What is your top-selling product? Who is your typical customer?

CHRIS: Belts and wallets, mainly. Our typical customer is sick of buying junk that doesn't do what it's supposed to and is prepared to pay a bit extra for handmade, quality stuff. Our top selling product is the "Super Tradies Belt": it's buffalo hide lined with kangaroo skin and saddle stitched all around by hand. It's tough enough for work all day yet stylish enough to wear out. I particularly enjoy carving and tooling artwork onto the belts, though; elvish leaves and vines, cattle, Celtic knots and dragons, EH Holden logos, etc. Making someone a belt that means something personal to them is particularly satisfying.

HVMAG: How are your products made/what materials do you use and why?

CHRIS: Leather, cow, buffalo and kangaroo hide primarily. I buy the shoulders, butts and skins and cut them into the straps I need to make belts or the parts for a wallet. Then I use several layers of dye to provide contrasting colours - and depth - to the finished product. Using dye isn't like paintyou can't just wipe off a mistake, so it takes some time to get it right, but it does produce a lasting and striking result.

HVMAG: We notice from your website that many of your products are personalized – how can customers pre-order a personalized product?

CHRIS: By email, FaceBook or phone - the important thing is that they know their belt size. I have an image on my website showing how to get your belt size from a belt you already use.

HVMAG: What do you like most about Handmade in the Hunter Markets?

CHIRS: That's an easy one! The people. It's an artisan market; people make the stuff they sell, which gives us a common bond, but it goes beyond that. Over the years, it has developed into a family that all pitch in to help anyone that needs it.