KINGSMERE CRAFTS

Kershaws Tannery:- Water Street, Portwood, Stockport SK1 2BP, UK. Tel: +44-161-480-3423 or Fax: +44-161-480-8106. E-mail: office@kershawleather.com. Contact: Edward Kershaw. This company is one of the last tanneries still operating in the UK. It was established in 1855 and specialises in ‘clothing leather’ which it produces to a very high standard using only the finest nappa's, aniline & nubuck. They also produce high quality sheepskin rugs and throws as well as chrome-free leather which is particularly suitable for clothing and children's shoes. They offer a consultancy service to their customers. Website http://www.kershawleather.com

Leathersmith Designs Inc:- 88 Woodlawn Road, Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, B2W 2S5, Canada. Tel: 1-902-434-9721. Fax: 1-902-434-9721. E-mail: sales@leathersmithdesigns.com. Contact: Jamie Hartling. (President). This company carries a large variety of skins and hides including natural tooling cow hide, horse hide and garment cowhide. They are one of the main suppliers leather hobbyists in Canada. (See also ‘Trade Suppliers’). Website http://www.leathersmithdesigns.com

Leather Suede, Skins Inc:- 261 West 35th Street, New York, NY 10001, USA. Tel: (212) 967-6616. Fax: (212) 546-5759. E-mail: nyleather@att.net. Contact: Faina Golub. This is New York's leading supplier and is known worldwide within the industry for their large, inspiring, selection of skins. They supply the garment, accessories, shoe, plus home markets. Get leather and suede from stock, or order, in a variety of colours, lambskin, pigskin, cowhide, deerskin and goatskin in different finishes. Prints, perforations and embossings, also patent, metallics, etc. Leather trimmings, rabbit skins, fox, mink, Tibetan lamb. Also exotics such as alligator, ostrich, python and snakeskin. Website http://www.leathersuedeskins.com

G H Leathers Ltd. Associate Company:- Rectory Road, Rushden, Northants NN10 0AG UK Tel: +44 (0) 1933311116. Fax: +44 (0) 1933311176. E-mail: Sales@leathermerchants.com. Contacts: Ian, Amos, or John. This go-ahead modern company was only founded in 1998 but has rapidly grown into a major supplier of a wide range of leathers. They supply leather for clothing, shoes, upholstery, interior design, etc. They also provide leather for colleges, schools and universities offering fashion and design courses and diplomas. Their main specialty is sheepskin and they offer a wide selection from many countries. They are now stocking a new range of exotic leathers from MPL in Thailand and will in future offer the entire range. Website http://www.leathermerchants.com Note. UK customers and european countries (without an MPL representative) are advised to contact the above company rather than contact MPL direct. These leathers are in short supply and MPL require large shipping orders to make export practical and these take time to fill. Nor are they keen to ship samples, due to shipping costs, without a firm order or payment for shipping them. G H Leathers now carry stocks of these leathers and are prepared to show samples to prospective customers. These leathers are from animals and fish that form part of the food chain in the region they come from. The skins are part of the waste product.

Metropolitan Leather Co. Ltd:- Unit 1B, Cottingham Way, Thrapston, Northants. NN14 4PL, UK. Tel: 01832732216. Contact: Roy Winnard. This is a good and reliable company offering a wide range of leather to the saddlery, leathergoods and upholstery industries. Website http://www.metropolitanleather.com

A W Midgley & Son Ltd:- 13 Cheddar Business Park, Wedmore Road, Cheddar, Somerset, BS27 3EB, UK. Tel: +44 (0) 01934 741741. Fax: +44 (0) 01934 741555. The company was founded in April 1921 by Arthur Walter Midgley, the grandfather of Simon and Andrew and great-grandfather of James and William the present directors. Midgley’s are leather suppliers, supplying quality leather hides to a wide variety of trades for more than sixty years. Whether it’s panel leather hides for saddles, automotive leather hides for car trimmers or natural vegetable tanned leathers for leathercrafts and leather carving, you will be able to find what you need. The company services many different leather users including saddlers, shoe, belt, bag and clothing manufacturers from their large stocks of leather. All customers are welcome to call at the warehouse in Cheddar, Somerset. If you are unable to visit they are always pleased to deal with your request over the phone, by e-mail (using quick mail form on the website), fax or post. Website http://www.awmidgley.co.uk/

Andrew Muirhead & Son Ltd. (Tanner):- Dalmarnock Leather Works, 273-289 Dunn Street, Glasgow, Scotland G40 3EA. Tel: +44 (0) 141-554-3724. Fax: +44 (0) 141-554-4741. E-mail: lang@muirhead.co.uk. Contact: James Lang. The company is a member of the Scottish Tanning Industries Group. They produce a vast range of specialist furnishing leathers. They offer a standard collection (over 100 shades, and will sell from 1 hide up to any quantity). If you can't find what you want, then they will make it. They provide cutting facilities, foil or blind blocking, for designs up to 1000 x 500 mm. Samples can be viewed on line. Website http://www.muirhead.co.uk