The Leather Crafting Workshop held on the 5th of October welcomed scholars back after the week-long mid-semester break. Our USP Club President, Ong Qin Hui, was already sitting in the room browsing through slides which he had meticulously prepared for the session. In the seminar room, the tables were laid with what seemed alien to me then—green mats with plotted squares much like those seen on graph papers. A toolset kit lay open with a variety of tools indistinguishable to the layman eye.
Telling Trivia
The workshop began with the screening of a video of LG G4 phone model’s integration of leather, spotting much detail in the crafting of the leather case. As Qin Hui started going over the processes in a tannery, we learnt that cowhide with its hair and fat removed was actually blue. It is only after dyeing that we see our most common brown leather skins. There were also a variety of leather types, ranging from cow hide, to the skin of stingrays or even kangaroos. Stingray leather can mostly be identified by its tiny white-spots, and kangaroo skins are known to be tougher and used to make whips.
This bit of trivia amused participants greatly. Su Ting, a year 1 Psychology major, expressed wonder, “I had never known that much about leather, the story of where a piece of leather came from, as well as understanding how unique the material is, as it gets darker with time and usage.”
One more tip for all those potential leather-product consumers out there: Real leather does not melt when burnt; it merely turns black. If it burns, it is most likely plastic. Yet how one would apply this piece of trivia I would not venture to advise.
Qin Hui teaching other USPians how to use the tools provided.
Hands at work
Each participant was then dished out two leather pieces. The participants were set to make cardholders, and they started by measuring the pieces and cutting them accordingly. The green mats I had noticed earlier were a guide when measuring the leather pieces. The participants cut, hole-punched and knocked the buttons in, glued, and finally, stitched. The stitching part was interesting as they were taught how to stitch a saddle knot. It was more secure than stitching done by a machine, with two strings crisscrossing as opposed to one. If a part of the string loosens for stitching done by a machine, the whole string would unravel. That would not happen for manual stitching.
Hard at work stitching, Dion, a Communication Studies freshman, mused at how this process of crafting made her better appreciate the effort, dedication and passion of the craftsman.
Edward (left) hammering the stitches in place and Su Ting (right) doing up the last few stitches.
The Imprintable Leather
How Qin Hui started leather crafting as a hobby is an interesting story. He had originally wanted to buy a leather book jacket for himself from overseas, which was priced exorbitantly. A person he met online recommended him to buy the same product from a Singaporean-based leather craftsman, who also happened to be giving workshops on leather crafting. Out of pure interest, Qin Hui started learning from the said craftsman, and is now even requested by his mentor to do side-line projects despite having only started this year. Perhaps the participants from today would be encouraged by this story.
Participants of the workshop posing with their very own cardholders.
Sue Qin, a Year 1 Economics student, was very affirming. She said, “I was utterly amazed at how well-organised the entire event was even though it was organised by a student. The activity has enabled me to know more about the hobbies of my fellow USPians and how they actively pursue it. It made me realise that we should not be too caught up studying, but instead learn to take time out to pursue our interests. Doing what one enjoys can be really therapeutic.”
Edward Yee, a Year 1 Accounting and Business student, was also proud of his work. He said, “The activity was great and I like how we created something from scratch. There really is a sense of ownership and entitlement to the final product.”
The exquisite nature of leather products comes with a personal touch to them. As Qin Hui pointed out, the oil from our hand imprints the leather with marks left by the user. Also, depending on how the leather is tanned, it may age with time, marking the time spent between the user and the product. In an era where manufacturing standardises products, we have lost the personal touch and hence yearn for it, as shown by potentially rocket-high prices for products handmade. Though the participants were all making leather cardholders, the end product varied in appearance, each markedly unveiling a different story of the crafting process.
The workshop ended with a group of participants snapping photos of their work proud and satisfied; with a new-found insight into the world of leather and authentic craftsmanship.
Do check out more photos of the event from our Facebook page!
