What is the difference between leather and pleather?
The difference is mostly a matter of visual appreciation, wholesomeness, and durability. People that appreciate real leather have responded to it as a material with high aesthetic appeal and lineage while maintaining a carrying on of tradition in fashion. Leather is easy to maintain because it can be cleaned with water or soapy water then left to dry. Water isn't supposed to damage the material so long as one washes up afterward and removes any leftover soap from the surface through blotting. Pleather, on the other hand, has been known to have a rubbery feel. It isn't the porous quality of leather but you can sure clean its surface with soap and water (which is recommended for all materials). However, many of those that buy pleather give it a coating or wax to preserve the sheen. This gives it an artificial look when compared to leather (not in a good way).
Can I select the type of leather product I'll be crafting?
Of course! You would be able to select the type of leather product before the workshop. Our popular product picks are the Leather Namecard Holder and Leather Coin Pouch.
Are there vegan-friendly options for the leather crafting workshop?
Definitely! At EPIC Workshops, we offer an alternative vegan-friendly mock leather made of polyurethane (PU), which is a plastic material. You can even order a mix of both real leather and PU leather for a single workshop if you want.
How large or small does the group need to be for the leather crafting workshop?
The group size does not need to be a certain number, but they will want an average of 5people. You are welcome to take notes, watch videos on leather crafting, or ask our friendly instructors any questions you might have on the leathercraft.
Do I need any prior knowledge to attend the leather crafting workshop?
No prior knowledge or experience is required for any EPIC Workshops! Our leather crafting workshops are suitable for beginners and our skilled facilitators will bring you through the process of creating your leather craft step-by-step. Not only would it be an enriching and fulfilling experience for you, but you also get to keep and use your leather product after the workshop.
Why should you choose EPIC Workshops' leather crafting workshop?
Leather is a durable material, so the crafts that you create with leather will definitely last you a long time. In fact, as you carry around and use your leather product, the more 'seasoned' it will get, becoming even softer to touch. An additional bonus - when your friends ask you where you got your leather product, you can proudly tell them that you made it all by yourself!
What types of events would the leather crafting workshop be suitable for?
Any types of events would go well with a leather crafting session, including corporate team-building events, school workshops, birthday / hen's parties, and even casual gatherings with your friends and family. Don't hesitate, book your EPIC Workshops' leather crafting workshop today!
What age groups are suitable for the leather crafting workshop?
The leather crafting workshop is great for teenagers and adults. Since the workshop requires fine motor skills in handling and using sharp objects such as scissors and pen knife, it is generally not as suitable for young children.
What's the maximum number of participants for the leather crafting workshop?
Our studio workshop can hold up to 50 participants for the leather crafting workshop. Due to Covid-19 restrictions, our studio's current maximum limit is 25 participants. For groups larger than 25, there are two options. 1. You can choose to book your own venue with a larger maximum capacity and our facilitators can travel to your location. 2. You can book a virtual leather crafting workshop instead for an unlimited number of participants.
How does the virtual leather crafting workshop work?
For virtual leather crafting workshops, all the materials you need would be packed and delivered to you in an individual leather crafting kit before the day of the virtual workshop. Our facilitators would then be conducting the workshop over Zoom, Microsoft Teams or any other online platform of your choice, and you and all of the other participants can enjoy crafting your own leather product from the comfort of your own homes. It would be great if you have your own cutting mat to use during the session, otherwise unfold and flatten your cardboard delivery box for a makeshift cutting mat!
Why choose EPIC Workshops?
EPIC Workshops has a dedicated team of staff which ensures the planning and preparation for your workshop is done in no time at all. We are able to cater to all types of events, including corporate team-building events, school workshops, birthday / hen's parties, gatherings with your friends and family, and more! Our professionally-trained workshop facilitators will guarantee a fantastic experience for all workshop participants, from the shyest individuals to outgoing ones, from young children to the young at heart. EPIC Workshops has conducted a countless number of workshops for a whole plethora of event types.
What is leather crafting?
Leather crafting is a process people use for making leather products. From the tanning of raw skin to cutting, stamping, and punching patterns into it - many different techniques and styles are employed. Skilled craftsmen take raw materials such as animal skins and turn them into finished products which may include purses, skirts, belts or shoes. There are many different tools used in creating leather crafts from stamps for embossing to chisels for drilling creases.
What equipment do you need?
The various pieces of equipment and materials needed for each leather crafting will depend on what you'll be doing. In general, to create belts one would need a stitching wheel. To do simple softie or totem animal versions, leather cutting. To make rawhide strips one would need a rawhide cutting device. Ideally, all these tools should come from professional manufacturers rather than living room inventors. If someone's in doubt about which exact tool is necessary the individual is advised to contact the workshop organizer before purchasing anything and find out if they can bring their own preferred tools or have them purchased by the workshop company for a small fee.
What type of leather can I work with?
All types of leather and skins can be used in a leather workshop. The most common skin that people use is cowhide because it's the easiest to work with and creates the best result. Other animals that are usually used for their skins include deer, goats, sheep, pigs, kangaroos (although it takes more specialized skills to process), llamas, alpacas, and even elephants tusks or hides found on dead elephants from poaching. Our leather crafting workshops use cowhide, snake skin, or PU leather.
Is there a workshop for beginners?
It would be difficult if you don't understand basic leatherworking tools. Basic tools are - Thumb nails, Scissor cutters/punch pliers. You’ll need some way to get your punches into the leather as well. Using a heavy object like a hammer or mallet with either a rounded head or cone shaped top is often used in leather crafting to avoid damaging the leather (similarity is sandpaper will make it smoother). Punches come in many shapes and sizes so knowing what you want ahead of time will be helpful.
Can you make mistakes in a leather workshop?
Absolutely. Leathersmith is an acquired skill, and it takes years to master. Plus, there are specific side-to-side patterns unique to each animal's hide. A mistake like this will usually be discovered when cutting your pattern pieces from the wrong side of the hide or when sewing together your mockup for its final shape, not after hand stitching had begun. But fret not, our skilled & professional instructors will be guiding you through the whole process of making your own leather accessory and the course is suitable for beginners.
Does this art class use any old or recycled materials?
The instructor works with reclaimed leather and materials whenever possible. The type of leather that we use are cow hide leather, PU leather, and leather off-cuts. Depending on your requirements, we are able to customize the type of leather accordingly to best fit your needs.
How long is the duration of our leather making workshop?
Our leather workshop duration is approximately 1-1.5hours
How can I make my own DIY leather goods?
This is a question for your friendly neighborhood leathersmith. There are a variety of ways to achieve this goal, and which one you utilize will greatly depend on the tools and materials you already have available to create leather goods. Come down to our workshop to learn more on how to create DIY leather goods or visit our website to learn more!