Every Monday, we will be celebrating one of our 40 under 40 makers and this week, we're drawing attention to The Bespoke Emporium, owned by Jennifer Roberts.
Jennifer has multiple talents and is always looking to develop her skills further. Finding her path to leatherwork through a degree in costume making, she has been trained in hand stitched leatherwork. She takes on commissions for leather goods through her business, The Bespoke Emporium. On top of all this, Jennifer, also works at the renowned gun makers, Westley Richards as a leather worker. Get to know Jennifer below and find out what she loves about her job.Â
Tell us a bit about what you do?Â
I am a leather worker and I mainly make small leather goods and bags. I began training in 2017 with Armitage Leather, learning how to make small handmade leather goods. In 2020, I established my business, The Bespoke Emporium. Following on from that, in 2021, I secured a full time job in the leather industry as a leather worker for Westley Richards. My own business is beginning to flourish and I produce goods in my spare time. I still undertake training with Armitage Leather, as there is always more to learn!
How did you get into making leather goods? / What, or maybe who inspired you to start making?
 I first encountered leather work in 2017 whilst studying costume design at university. I decided I wanted to work with leather, as it was prevalent in my study of the Steampunk subculture. My University did not offer tuition in this area, so I sourced my own teacher, trawling through classes and reviews. Subsequently, I came across Nigel from Armitage Leather, I booked a lesson in and thoroughly enjoyed myself. We collaborated on my final major project, whereby I created several leather pieces for two outfits, including: a handstitched vegetable tanned leather corset (pictured), crinoline cage (pictured), belt, shoulder spaulder and pouches. An extremely ambitious project, but with Nigel’s exceptional skill and knowledge, I had the best person to guide me through each piece. Since that day, I have had a thirst for knowledge and a love of this beautiful craft. All of my skill, passion and precision can be attributed to Nigel; he helped me when I was a complete novice with extravagant ideas. Nigel continues to inspire and educate me to this very day, his love of the craft and passing on his skills is unrivalled.
What is your favourite product to make/favourite commission piece?
 I thoroughly enjoy slightly complex small goods, with lots of different pieces, such as bags and wallets. The process and precision needed to create a sufficient item really fascinates me; an everyday item has so much work put into it that the end user may not even realise. I like the whole process of measuring an item, adding tolerances and creating a template specifically for that item. My favourite piece to date that I’ve created is a bespoke leather bifold wallet. It was something I created as a gift for someone very special to me and is a design I will not replicate, so it remains truly one of a kind.
What do you love most about working with leather?
 I love the character and versatility of leather, no two hides are the same, you could use the same template on multiple skins and each will tell a different story. The versatility of leather is amazing, literally anything you can imagine, there will be a way to make it. Using different parts of the animal hide based on strength and stretch for specific jobs really captivates me. Leather is a beautiful, sustainable and natural product that I really enjoy working with.
What are your next goals/ Have you got any exciting new projects lined up?Â
There is just so much to learn in this industry, I want to keep progressing, making every template and item as precise as possible. I would like to hone my skills further to be able to tackle some more complex projects. I am currently working on perfecting a template for a round bottom bag; I have already made a smaller version of this template which works beautifully. I will hopefully progress onto making them both into tangible products in the next few months.
 What advice would you give to someone who is thinking about becoming a leather worker or who has just started out?
 I might be biased, but my honest advice would be to go and spend a day with Nigel from Armitage Leather. You will get an appreciation for the craft; his passion and enthusiasm for the craft is contagious. Other than that, a strong foundation is key, getting to grips with measurements and templates is really the best way to build up your skill set and most of all, have fun; leather is a beautiful, versatile material.
What does it mean to you to be included on the 40 under 40 list?Â
I was really shocked when I received the email, I had no idea I’d even been nominated, it made my day. There are so many fantastic leather workers and saddlers out there, I am humbled to have been included. Constructing items from leather is my passion and I’m so fortunate that I get to do this for a job. To have my work and skill recognised by such a well-respected company, truly meant the world.
How important do you think it is to keep traditional techniques alive in the modern world?
 I think it is important to recognise and utilise traditional techniques, although some may be harder to master and more time-consuming, the end result is often more durable and aesthetically pleasing. The traditional techniques of a craft are the foundational skills upon which to build. I myself, use the traditional techniques, however, new tools and training have made these techniques more refined. If these practises are not passed down we will lose the heritage of this fabulous industry and the new techniques may distort the old, therefore removing the very essence of the craft.
What have you done to keep relevant in a digital age?Â
I use social media, posting photographs of my work to engage with potential customers and other creative professionals. Admittedly I do not post as much as I should, something I am working to improve! I also have a website cataloguing my work and a shop section.
What is the biggest challenge to becoming successful in your discipline?Â
Time. There is so many projects I want to tackle, lots of new techniques to learn and all of these take time to master. Although I have been working leather for five years, I have only really just scratched the surface of this brilliant and intriguing craft.
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