One of the lessons I learned as a boy was…. ‘ Look after your shoes and your shoes will look after you.’ It has served me well. I have always loved anything made of good quality leather. The smell of it. The feel of it. The timeless craftsmanship that goes back centuries. I came across one such craftsman recently whose website is clear … “Handmade, bespoke leather items made to a very high standard by using the best quality materials available.”
Szilvia was awarded the Worshipful Company of Saddlers trophy for excellence in saddlery which indicates the bulk of her work, but she has completed an increasing number of orders from our own peculiar world of vintage cars and motorcycles. Anything from bonnet straps, spare wheel bridles, tool bags - you name it. A vintage TT motorcycle racer even took his precious bike in for attention to the original leather seat pad. (check how it was before..!) If you lean toward your screen, you may just be able to detect the smell of leather mixed with Castrol 'R' mixed with adrenaline?
Her workshop is in Borehamwood near Junction 23 of the M25, so I know where to take my old leather suitcase with a broken handle.
(Text Robin Batchelor)