Our Story

Our story begins in 2018.

Can you imagine owning your own unique and hand-crafted leather bag or leather backpack? Seldom will two ever be the same. Local craftspeople, some from rural regions of South Africa, and our neighbours provide these beautiful creations.

Each item is individually crafted by people passionate about their calling. Whatever you choose, it is sure to become your friend for life! Due to the nature of leather hides and crafting methods used in these areas, some hides may have slight imperfections, thus, adding to the character and uniqueness of your purchase.

We founded Dirty Leather Bags in July 2018, with the aim of promoting local crafters and their skills. We encouraged our partners to participate in local and regional markets in their own right.  And so, at Dirty Leather, we began our own journey trading on local markets in the Helderberg and Stellenbosch areas.

With the advent of COVID-19, this sadly had to be put on hold. In order to fulfill our orders, keep our loyal and valued clients happy, and help our crafters continue to have an income, we expanded into an online store in July 2020.

Since then, we and our partners have learned much about our clients and their needs. We are continuing to upskill ourselves and introduce new and exciting products into our store and keeping stock of your old favourites.

As we grow, we are very aware that thanks are due to our loyal clients for their support and input. We welcome feedback and suggestions for improvements and additions to our range of leather handbags and accessories.