40 under 40: Meet Jo Heard

Every Monday, we are celebrating one of our 40 under 40 makers.

This week, we are getting to know Jo Heard from J H Leather. Jo has her own YouTube channel which has video tutorials to help others get started in leathercraft. With over 100k and growing subscribers, her help has certainly had a huge impact on the leather community.

Let's get to know her with our Q&A session.

Tell us a bit about what you do?

Hi, I'm Jo from J.H.Leather and I have been in the leathercraft industry since 2007 when I started my journey at Capel Manor college on the Cordwainers Diploma. I then when onto complete the modern and millennium apprenticeship schemes at Stroud Saddlery before moving to Wales to start my own business, where I specialised in handmade dog collars and leads, as well as other small leather goods.
In 2016 I started a YouTube channel where I create video tutorials to help others get started in leathercraft. These tutorials range from complete beginner to more advance crafter. More recently I have created digital pattern packs to go along with these videos as well as creating acrylic templates and some DIY craft kits for complete beginners. This year, I reached 100,000 subscribers on my channel, which is a really proud moment for me.

On the back of the YouTube videos, I started offering 1:1 workshops to share my knowledge further and this has been very rewarding. In 2022, I had 3 students from outside the UK come for a 1:1 workshop which was pretty amazing.

How did you get into making leather goods? / What or maybe who inspired you to start making?

At school, I really enjoyed making things and when a friend mentioned becoming a saddler, I thought yes, I could do that and that is where my journey began. After completing the Cordwainers Diploma at Capel Manor College and the Society of Master Saddlers Modern and Millennium apprenticeships at Stroud Saddlery, I moved to Wales and set up on my own as J.H.Leather.
What is your favourite product to make/favourite commission piece?
Though I don't make the dog collars as much any more, my favourite pieces to make are the square raised and double raised collars as they are very satisfying to make and look awesome once finished, a close second would be bifold wallets as they are another great project to make.

What do you love most about working with leather?

I love that you can create so many different and varied items with leather, be that a simple belt or a full blown weekend bag. The possibilities are endless.

What are your next goals/ Have you got any exciting new projects lined up?

I have a few ideas for the future, like filming a full online course as well as (hopefully) a documentary series where I meet other crafters within the leather industry and show what amazing things they create.

What advice would you give to someone who is thinking about becoming a leather worker or who has just started out?

Go for it! Working with leather is very rewarding and therapeutic, whether you are just looking for a hobby, a potential side hustle or a new career leathercraft is amazing, and you will love it! Also, don't be afraid to ask for help, when I transitioned from saddlery to small leather goods, I took a number of online courses to help me make these the best that I could, and this was one of the best decisions that I could have made as it really pushed me to get better.

What does it mean to you to be included on the 40 under 40 list?

I didn't realize that I had been nominated, so when the email popped into my inbox it was a lovely surprise, and it is an honour to be included amongst so many talented crafters.

How important do you think it is to keep traditional techniques alive in the modern world?

I believe that many people are more environmentally aware and would consider purchasing an item that will last a lifetime rather than a few months or years. By using and passing on the knowledge of traditional skills, we can create items that will last a lifetime.

What have you done to keep relevant in a digital age?

In 2016, I started my YouTube channel sharing tutorial videos and this has really helped me grow my business through selling pattern packs, acrylic templates as well as offering 1:1 workshops as most of my customers find me though the YouTube channel.

What is the biggest challenge to becoming successful in your discipline?

Though this will be different for everyone, for me time is a challenge as I have a lot of ideas and not always the time to work on them, as well as all the other things that I am supposed to be doing. This is something that I am planning to work on next year.

For more information, please visit https://linktr.ee/JHLeather
To join this network of great makers, please follow Jo's instagram page HERE