THE LEATHER SURPLUS PROJECT 2025 - 2026

ABOUT THE PROJECT

For the third year running, Abbey England is proud to collaborate with the Leathersellers to deliver the Leather Surplus Project to 18 universities and colleges across the UK.

This initiative provides students with free access to surplus leather generously donated by UK Tanneries. Not only does the project give students the opportunity to work with a wide variety of locally produced leathers in different finishes and colours, it also:

  • Encourages the use of a sustainable by-product

  • Builds an understanding of leather as a material

  • Develops key leatherworking skills, a valuable asset for future careers in fashion, accessories, footwear, and design disciplines

This year, more than 400 hides were distributed to participating universities and colleges in time for the start of the September 2025 term.

The project was first piloted in 2022, and following positive feedback and gratitude from the participating universities, the Leathersellers agreed to continue running it in the 2024–2025 academic year.

Looking ahead, The Leathersellers’ Master, Martin Dove, commented on the expected impact of the 2025–2026 Surplus Leather Project "Now in its fourth year, it is fantastic to see the Surplus Leather Project continue to grow and increase its impact, reaching more students at now 19 educational institutions thanks to ongoing and new industry donors. Through increasing access, we are helping to underpin the development of essential leatherworking skills, ensuring leather remains the material of choice and opportunity across a range of creative design disciplines from fashion to furniture."

We are delighted to be a part of this scheme once again.

If your university would like to be a part of the next cohort of education partners or to donate surplus leather, please contact Natalia Rymaszewska NRymaszewska@leathersellers.co.uk.

Richard Brown rolling up leather
Donated leather for the Surplus Leather Project
Natalie Morris prepparing leather for the surplus leather project

OUR 2025 - 2026 PARTNERS

This project would not be able to go ahead without the kind donations from the following UK Tanneries. We thank them for their support and the positive contribution towards the leather industry and the higher education system.

ALLY CAPELLINO

__________________________________________

Ally Capellino creates modern, functional bags and accessories that celebrate British style, design and culture. 

Both fashion and style conscious, but with a healthy scepticism for passing trends, Ally Capellino bags combine style and practicality. Understated, practical and desirable, the leather, canvas and waxed cotton bags are created from materials chosen for their lasting beauty and function. They are directed at an audience spanning both age and gender, independent men and women with confidence in their own style.

“We have built up quite a pile of ends of lines or quantities that are too small for us to use, and I know that materials are not funded for students as they were in my college days. It’s a great feeling to think that the future designers might get a leg up from Ally Capellino. 

I think there may be some unusual colours and textures in the mix, and it would be interesting to see what the students might produce and how they would be challenged. I hope they are experimental and try out new ideas. (And don’t bore us with bondage - it’s been done.”


Alison Lloyd, Founder of Ally Capellino

FIND OUT MORE
Ally Capellino leather bags
Ally Capellino Dora Small Leather Crossbody Bucket Bag in Dijon
Alison Lloyd, Founder

C.F. STEAD

__________________________________________

C.F. Stead pride themselves on making the best classic suedes available and in doing so, they have built-long standing relationships with many of the finest shoe and bag manufacturers in the world.

The team at C.F. Stead are constantly seeking to innovate new leathers to meet their customers’ needs and provide them with unique and interesting topical looks to ensure their products stand out in the marketplace, whilst never compromising our unrelenting commitment to produce high quality natural products.

Stead’s are proud to offer a renewable, sustainable, durable, versatile yet beautiful material. At the polar opposite of ‘fast fashion’, their suedes and leathers are designed to be enjoyed for decades, offering classic elegance, durability and repairability.

"C F Stead are proud to be part of the Leathersellers’ scheme ensuring students are able to access genuine leather to enrich their studies and design experience.

 Leather, as the original recycled material, is sustainable, biodegradable, durable, repairable and, most importantly,  beautiful. We feel it’s essential that the next generation of designers and creatives are exposed to the wonderful properties of genuine leathers and learn how to make the most of its unique and varied characteristics."

 Sales Director of C.F. Stead, Andrew Bailey
FIND OUT MORE

J & M DAVIDSON

__________________________________________

J & M Davidson designs for the woman who notices more. 

She moves through the world with quiet confidence and curiosity, drawn to the curve of a buckle, the texture of fine leather, the beauty found in small, fleeting details. Her style is considered timeless, never loud – but always her own.

Founded in London in 1984, the brand grew from the belief in British craftsmanship infused with a touch of French irreverence. Today, each piece is made in Italy and Spain by skilled artisans using high-quality leathers – chosen for their rich character, supple feel, and ability to age beautifully over time. Four decades on, that spirit remains: bags, belts, and accessories made to be lived with, often carried, and discovered slowly.

For the quietly curious woman, true luxury and craft lie not in spectacle but in the small details that reward a closer look.

"insert quote"

Haruko Sagawa, Head of Products and Merchandising, J & M Davidson
FIND OUT MORE

SCOTTISH LEATHER GROUP

__________________________________________

When it comes to reducing carbon emissions, Scottish Leather Group lead the global leather industry. Since 2003, it has reduced the carbon intensity of their leather by 90%. It proudly sources all rawhides responsibly and locally, reducing transportation emissions as well as innovating its circular manufacturing process to reduce its carbon footprint.

Scottish Leather Group, the UK's largest leather manufacturer, encompasses Bridge of Weir Leather, Lang, and Muirhead, leading in automotive, aviation, mass transit, and luxury sectors with a focus on environmental sustainability and technical excellence. Customers include Aston Martin, Jaguar Land Rover, British Airways, Singapore Airlines and Philips.

“We continually seek innovative and practical methods to extend the life of our leather, celebrating its natural beauty and emphasizing its durability and versatility.

This opportunity enables us to inspire and support the next generation and show the designers of the future that leather is not just a luxury material but a sustainable and forward-thinking choice. At the same time, it helps us shape the evolving role of leather in contemporary design.”
 
The seventh generation of the Muirhead family and CEO of Scottish Leather Group, Nicholas Muirhead.

FIND OUT MORE

TUSTING

__________________________________________

Tusting is a global name in luxury leather goods supplying a range of handbags, travel bags briefcases and more, all from their Lavendon workshop, Buckinghamshire.

 A family run business, Tusting employ highly skilled artisans to transform raw leather into exquisite finished designs. This meticulous process involves eight key stages, from pattern making and full-grain leather selection to hand and machine cutting, edge painting, skiving, splitting, and bench-working. 

FIND OUT MORE

OUR BENEFICIARIES

The Leathersellers Surplus Leather Project is supporting 18 universities. Hear how the project is benefiting the universities and their students from the course leaders below.
"This partnership offers our students a unique opportunity to engage with the leather industry, gaining hands-on experience that bridges traditional craftsmanship with modern design and sustainability practices. By working with real-world projects, our students will not only enhance their technical skills but also develop a deeper understanding of responsible sourcing and innovation in materials. This collaboration aligns with our goal of preparing students for the evolving demands of the fashion industry, fostering creativity while promoting ethical and sustainable practices."

Joseph Turvey, Birmingham City University
"The leather that we have received will be used for Graduate collections, either as garments or accessories. As we are nearly at the end of our term, this donation will be used for next year's cohort who will be graduates of 2026. By being given donations, this helps our students immensely as it allows them to be able to use items that they might not have been able to afford."

Bethan Willicombe
Pattern Cutting & Garment Construction Technical Demonstrator, Cardiff University
"Using donated materials enables students to work with high-quality, existing resources, allowing them to explore sustainable practices without the added environmental impact of newly manufactured materials and reduces the cost of study.  Working with leather has helped them engage with traditional craftsmanship while developing contemporary approaches to a culture of repair. By incorporating leather into their creative process, our students are creating objects with longevity and value. ”

Darla Gilroy, Associate Dean of Knowledge Exchange
Reader in Fashion and Enterprise, Central Saint Martins
"The leather will be used bay a Year 3 student exploring novel structures of limits in application to furniture.
Then mainly for a Year 1 external project with Waste to Wonder where students disassemble clearance office waste furnishings to make new designed items.
 
We are interested in building up leather skills on the Product and Furniture Design course moving forward."  

Liz Ciokajlo, Designer, Researcher and Lecturer   BSc/MA/PgCert/FHEA, Chelsea College of Art
"De Montfort University are indebted to Abbey England and the Leathersellers for their unfailing support of student work throughout the academic year. This has proven to be invaluable and enables leather working viable to students without the prohibitive costs for hides, which can prove to be prohibitive for some students. DMU is the only UK University aligned with the United Nation’s SDG’s for sustainability. We pride ourselves on our vital relationships in the leather industry and having sustainability at our hearts, have worked extensively for some years now to utilise deadstock, upcycled and offcut hides for a breadth of projects across two schools: Fashion & Textiles and Arts, Architecture & Design.  These most welcome donations of hides will continue to encourage the future of leather working in preserving heritage craft skills, design and product development."

Gillian Proctor BA (Hons) M.Des.RCA
Associate Professor, De Montfort University
"We are thrilled to be part of this fantastic initiative supported by The Leathersellers, Abbey England and associated tanneries. The students on our courses in Fashion and Accessories will be now able to experiment and create a whole variety of projects from shoes, bags, accessories and garments using these fantastic donated leathers, which otherwise may be prohibitive for them to access. The Surplus Leather project will allow our students to not only gain hands-on and technical experience working with high-quality, pre-existing resources, but also facilitate their exploration of sustainable practices. Engaging with leather is allowing our students to connect with traditional artisanal techniques alongside exploring and experimenting with innovative methods and approaches. This welcome donation will benefit our diverse student body to experience working with these fantastic materials and create new visions for footwear, fashion and accessories."

Rosa Foir, Associate Lecturer BA (Hons)Footwear Design and Accessories
Jimmy Choo Academy
"Thank you to Abbey Leather, The Leathersellers Foundation, Bill Amberg Studio, and all the UK tanneries for their generous support. Product & Furniture Design MA students at Kingston School of Art, Kingston University, are exploring leather through self-initiated projects, expecting this to lead to innovative design outcomes. In their work, they will apply circular design principles, consider heritage and endangered making, and the potential for making education, as well as sharing skills and knowledge. The leather provided supports thinking through making and iterative designing and making processes that are core to the course experience. The Product & Furniture Design MA course at Kingston School of Art, Kingston University, values this external collaboration, which supports students in positioning their design practice and future development."
 
David Weatherhead, MA.RCA
Course Leader Product & Furniture Design MA, Kingston School of Art, Kingston University, London

"The Lethersellers Leather Surplus Project is a really valuable initiative that will help our students at London College of Fashion to become more informed about leather properties and types. Our leather-orientated disciplines include footwear, bags and accessories, jewellery and artefact at both undergraduate and post graduate level. The students are involved in pushing the boundaries in design whilst keeping traditional craftsmanship skills alive. The project will enable the students to access leather samples to do this, which many would find difficult to fund for themselves. We are very appreciative of the Leathersellers support through this very worthwhile endeavour. "

Lindsey Riley,  MA PGCE SFHEA CMgr
Associate Dean, School of Design and Technology,
London College of Fashion
"We would like to extend our sincere thanks to Abbey England for generously providing complimentary leather skins for our students to work with on their fashion design project briefs. We appreciate your support and the opportunity to collaborate with a company that shares our passion for innovation and excellence." 

Gavin Douglas, Programme Leader -BA Fashion Design and Technology, Manchester Metropolitan University

"At Matthew Boulton College Birmingham Fashion & Textiles department, we look forward to being part of the Surplus Leather Project, as recycling and sustainability is a major part of our curriculum.
 
To have this unique opportunity for our students to work with and experience quality British leather material to sample with, embellish and incorporate into their garment production, will benefit enormously their creative practice towards University."

Warren Malkin, Facilitator in Fashion, Clothing & Textile Design, Matthew Boulton College
"The Leather Surplus Project will continue to support us in our goal to provide specialist training and education to our students wanting to innovate and create beautiful works in leather."

Lee Mattocks, Senior Lecturer, Nottingham School of Art & Design

Nottingham Trent University
"At the RCA Technical spaces, we are growing our Footwear and Accessories department. We now cater for the demand for general leather making. We are upgrading our leather making machinery and currently adding to our masterclasses for leather hand stitching techniques. We are able to cut leather using our Zund machine, and students are experimenting with making new systems of joining (no sew) materials. Having these donations helps us to carry out teaching and exploration into this material, as well as aiding fashion student's to make their final garments from quality leathers. There are students who may be with us on receipt of the Leathersellers bursaries and scholarships especially benefiting and your donations are invaluable to them"
 
"The link we have with the Abbey Leather Surplus Project initiative is highly beneficial for our fashion students and also the wider student community working with this amazing material. Your generous support and donation helps fuel the  students' experimentation with new techniques and form building systems to develop their creative ideas."

Kelly Duncan , Specialist Technical Instructor in Pattern Cutting & Flora McLean, Senior Tutor in Fashion Footwear Accessories Millinery and Eyewear,  
Royal College of Art
"The donations of skins will be used in final year leather workshops and in several final years finished outfits and accessories. And used in portfolios as swatches within their fabric assortments across three separate collections. "
Jeffrey Thorpe, Principal Teaching Fellow in Fashion Design
Employability Lead, Director of Industrial Advisory Board 

"We are excited to be part of the surplus leather initiative as this puts into practice what we deliver through our curriculum; embedding responsible consumption, high quality craftsmanship and a design approach which encourages our students to consider a broad range of sustainability challenges in the fashion industry.”
Elaine Evans, Senior Teaching Fellow, Programme Leader in Fashion Design

"The leather will be used across all year groups within fashion, footwear & accessories. It will enable our first years to explore, experiment and learn about the qualities of this unique material. The second-year students will have access to this for their live project work which will be showcased on the catwalk in June here at UON. The third-year students will be able to select to support their final collections. Many thanks to both Abbey England Ltd and The Leathersellers’ for this opportunity. We have 50 students who will have access to the leather."

Vickie Dean, University of Northampton

"Knowledge of materials and sustainable working practices are key to learning Fashion Design at the University of South Wales. Leather donated to us enables our students to develop skills and appreciation of the creative potential of leather. "

Dr Torunn Kjolberg, PhD, MA, FHEA
Lecturer in Fashion Studies, University of South Wales
"With exceptionally kind donations like this our students continue to develop a deeper understanding of heritage craft, hands-on technical craftsmanship and innovation in materials, without the prohibitive costs for hides. Product, Furniture, Ceramics at the University of Staffordshire are incredibly grateful for these kind donations to enable us to sustain the longevity of heritage craft skills, whilst promoting ethical and sustainable practices. Without these partnerships, opportunities like this would not be possible and traditional skill sets would be lost further. "

Tim Forrester, Course Leader - BA (Hons) Product, Furniture, Ceramics, University of Staffordshire
"At West Dean we aim to provide students with access to the widest range of possible sample materials used through history in book construction. In this, leather is one of the most significant and diverse materials, and to have the opportunity through this donation to create a comprehensive teaching and handling collection is really exciting.'"

Victoria Stevens MA ACR FIIC
Subject Leader for Books and Library Materials
West Dean College
“Receiving a package of free surplus leather would enable students to work with high-quality materials that are often prohibitively expensive. This hands-on experience would foster creativity, allowing them to apply their knowledge in real-world scenarios. Students could experiment with essential leatherworking techniques, including stitching, dyeing, and shaping.

Additionally, this partnership would promote sustainable practices in design, teaching students the value of resourcefulness. Ultimately, access to surplus leather would enrich our curriculum, empowering students to develop their skills and confidence as emerging designers while championing sustainability in their work.”

Donna Kernan, Year Two Tutor , BA Fashion Design,
Westminster School of Arts

THE IMPACT

___________________________

We look forward to sharing the students' work and projects later in the academic year.

RESOURCES

For resources and guides, head over to the Leathersellers who have partnered with Leather Naturally, to produce an in-depth guide to leather.

Click HERE.

THE LEATHER SURPLUS PROJECT 2025 - 2026

ABOUT THE PROJECT

For the third year running, Abbey England is proud to collaborate with the Leathersellers to deliver the Leather Surplus Project to 18 universities and colleges across the UK.

This initiative provides students with free access to surplus leather generously donated by UK Tanneries. Not only does the project give students the opportunity to work with a wide variety of locally produced leathers in different finishes and colours, it also:

  • Encourages the use of a sustainable by-product

  • Builds an understanding of leather as a material

  • Develops key leatherworking skills, a valuable asset for future careers in fashion, accessories, footwear, and design disciplines

This year, more than 400 hides were distributed to participating universities and colleges in time for the start of the September 2025 term.

The project was first piloted in 2022, and following positive feedback and gratitude from the participating universities, the Leathersellers agreed to continue running it in the 2024–2025 academic year.

Looking ahead, The Leathersellers’ Master, Martin Dove, commented on the expected impact of the 2025–2026 Surplus Leather Project "Now in its fourth year, it is fantastic to see the Surplus Leather Project continue to grow and increase its impact, reaching more students at now 19 educational institutions thanks to ongoing and new industry donors. Through increasing access, we are helping to underpin the development of essential leatherworking skills, ensuring leather remains the material of choice and opportunity across a range of creative design disciplines from fashion to furniture."

We are delighted to be a part of this scheme once again.

If your university would like to be a part of the next cohort of education partners or to donate surplus leather, please contact Natalia Rymaszewska NRymaszewska@leathersellers.co.uk.

Richard Brown rolling up leather
Donated leather for the Surplus Leather Project
Natalie Morris prepparing leather for the surplus leather project

OUR 2025 - 2026 PARTNERS

This project would not be able to go ahead without the kind donations from the following UK Tanneries. We thank them for their support and the positive contribution towards the leather industry and the higher education system.

ALLY CAPELLINO

__________________________________________

Ally Capellino creates modern, functional bags and accessories that celebrate British style, design and culture. 

Both fashion and style conscious, but with a healthy scepticism for passing trends, Ally Capellino bags combine style and practicality. Understated, practical and desirable, the leather, canvas and waxed cotton bags are created from materials chosen for their lasting beauty and function. They are directed at an audience spanning both age and gender, independent men and women with confidence in their own style.

“We have built up quite a pile of ends of lines or quantities that are too small for us to use, and I know that materials are not funded for students as they were in my college days. It’s a great feeling to think that the future designers might get a leg up from Ally Capellino. 

I think there may be some unusual colours and textures in the mix, and it would be interesting to see what the students might produce and how they would be challenged. I hope they are experimental and try out new ideas. (And don’t bore us with bondage - it’s been done.”


Alison Lloyd, Founder of Ally Capellino

FIND OUT MORE
Ally Capellino leather bags
Ally Capellino Dora Small Leather Crossbody Bucket Bag in Dijon
Alison Lloyd, Founder

C.F. STEAD

__________________________________________

C.F. Stead pride themselves on making the best classic suedes available and in doing so, they have built-long standing relationships with many of the finest shoe and bag manufacturers in the world.

The team at C.F. Stead are constantly seeking to innovate new leathers to meet their customers’ needs and provide them with unique and interesting topical looks to ensure their products stand out in the marketplace, whilst never compromising our unrelenting commitment to produce high quality natural products.

Stead’s are proud to offer a renewable, sustainable, durable, versatile yet beautiful material. At the polar opposite of ‘fast fashion’, their suedes and leathers are designed to be enjoyed for decades, offering classic elegance, durability and repairability.

"C F Stead are proud to be part of the Leathersellers’ scheme ensuring students are able to access genuine leather to enrich their studies and design experience.

 Leather, as the original recycled material, is sustainable, biodegradable, durable, repairable and, most importantly,  beautiful. We feel it’s essential that the next generation of designers and creatives are exposed to the wonderful properties of genuine leathers and learn how to make the most of its unique and varied characteristics."

 Sales Director of C.F. Stead, Andrew Bailey
FIND OUT MORE

J & M DAVIDSON

__________________________________________

J & M Davidson designs for the woman who notices more. 

She moves through the world with quiet confidence and curiosity, drawn to the curve of a buckle, the texture of fine leather, the beauty found in small, fleeting details. Her style is considered timeless, never loud – but always her own.

Founded in London in 1984, the brand grew from the belief in British craftsmanship infused with a touch of French irreverence. Today, each piece is made in Italy and Spain by skilled artisans using high-quality leathers – chosen for their rich character, supple feel, and ability to age beautifully over time. Four decades on, that spirit remains: bags, belts, and accessories made to be lived with, often carried, and discovered slowly.

For the quietly curious woman, true luxury and craft lie not in spectacle but in the small details that reward a closer look.

"insert quote"

Haruko Sagawa, Head of Products and Merchandising, J & M Davidson
FIND OUT MORE

SCOTTISH LEATHER GROUP

__________________________________________

When it comes to reducing carbon emissions, Scottish Leather Group lead the global leather industry. Since 2003, it has reduced the carbon intensity of their leather by 90%. It proudly sources all rawhides responsibly and locally, reducing transportation emissions as well as innovating its circular manufacturing process to reduce its carbon footprint.

Scottish Leather Group, the UK's largest leather manufacturer, encompasses Bridge of Weir Leather, Lang, and Muirhead, leading in automotive, aviation, mass transit, and luxury sectors with a focus on environmental sustainability and technical excellence. Customers include Aston Martin, Jaguar Land Rover, British Airways, Singapore Airlines and Philips.

“We continually seek innovative and practical methods to extend the life of our leather, celebrating its natural beauty and emphasizing its durability and versatility.

This opportunity enables us to inspire and support the next generation and show the designers of the future that leather is not just a luxury material but a sustainable and forward-thinking choice. At the same time, it helps us shape the evolving role of leather in contemporary design.”
 
The seventh generation of the Muirhead family and CEO of Scottish Leather Group, Nicholas Muirhead.

FIND OUT MORE

TUSTING

__________________________________________

Tusting is a global name in luxury leather goods supplying a range of handbags, travel bags briefcases and more, all from their Lavendon workshop, Buckinghamshire.

 A family run business, Tusting employ highly skilled artisans to transform raw leather into exquisite finished designs. This meticulous process involves eight key stages, from pattern making and full-grain leather selection to hand and machine cutting, edge painting, skiving, splitting, and bench-working. 

FIND OUT MORE

OUR BENEFICIARIES

The Leathersellers Surplus Leather Project is supporting 18 universities. Hear how the project is benefiting the universities and their students from the course leaders below.
"This partnership offers our students a unique opportunity to engage with the leather industry, gaining hands-on experience that bridges traditional craftsmanship with modern design and sustainability practices. By working with real-world projects, our students will not only enhance their technical skills but also develop a deeper understanding of responsible sourcing and innovation in materials. This collaboration aligns with our goal of preparing students for the evolving demands of the fashion industry, fostering creativity while promoting ethical and sustainable practices."

Joseph Turvey, Birmingham City University
"The leather that we have received will be used for Graduate collections, either as garments or accessories. As we are nearly at the end of our term, this donation will be used for next year's cohort who will be graduates of 2026. By being given donations, this helps our students immensely as it allows them to be able to use items that they might not have been able to afford."

Bethan Willicombe
Pattern Cutting & Garment Construction Technical Demonstrator, Cardiff University
"Using donated materials enables students to work with high-quality, existing resources, allowing them to explore sustainable practices without the added environmental impact of newly manufactured materials and reduces the cost of study.  Working with leather has helped them engage with traditional craftsmanship while developing contemporary approaches to a culture of repair. By incorporating leather into their creative process, our students are creating objects with longevity and value. ”

Darla Gilroy, Associate Dean of Knowledge Exchange
Reader in Fashion and Enterprise, Central Saint Martins
"The leather will be used bay a Year 3 student exploring novel structures of limits in application to furniture.
Then mainly for a Year 1 external project with Waste to Wonder where students disassemble clearance office waste furnishings to make new designed items.
 
We are interested in building up leather skills on the Product and Furniture Design course moving forward."  

Liz Ciokajlo, Designer, Researcher and Lecturer   BSc/MA/PgCert/FHEA, Chelsea College of Art
"De Montfort University are indebted to Abbey England and the Leathersellers for their unfailing support of student work throughout the academic year. This has proven to be invaluable and enables leather working viable to students without the prohibitive costs for hides, which can prove to be prohibitive for some students. DMU is the only UK University aligned with the United Nation’s SDG’s for sustainability. We pride ourselves on our vital relationships in the leather industry and having sustainability at our hearts, have worked extensively for some years now to utilise deadstock, upcycled and offcut hides for a breadth of projects across two schools: Fashion & Textiles and Arts, Architecture & Design.  These most welcome donations of hides will continue to encourage the future of leather working in preserving heritage craft skills, design and product development."

Gillian Proctor BA (Hons) M.Des.RCA
Associate Professor, De Montfort University
"We are thrilled to be part of this fantastic initiative supported by The Leathersellers, Abbey England and associated tanneries. The students on our courses in Fashion and Accessories will be now able to experiment and create a whole variety of projects from shoes, bags, accessories and garments using these fantastic donated leathers, which otherwise may be prohibitive for them to access. The Surplus Leather project will allow our students to not only gain hands-on and technical experience working with high-quality, pre-existing resources, but also facilitate their exploration of sustainable practices. Engaging with leather is allowing our students to connect with traditional artisanal techniques alongside exploring and experimenting with innovative methods and approaches. This welcome donation will benefit our diverse student body to experience working with these fantastic materials and create new visions for footwear, fashion and accessories."

Rosa Foir, Associate Lecturer BA (Hons)Footwear Design and Accessories
Jimmy Choo Academy
"Thank you to Abbey Leather, The Leathersellers Foundation, Bill Amberg Studio, and all the UK tanneries for their generous support. Product & Furniture Design MA students at Kingston School of Art, Kingston University, are exploring leather through self-initiated projects, expecting this to lead to innovative design outcomes. In their work, they will apply circular design principles, consider heritage and endangered making, and the potential for making education, as well as sharing skills and knowledge. The leather provided supports thinking through making and iterative designing and making processes that are core to the course experience. The Product & Furniture Design MA course at Kingston School of Art, Kingston University, values this external collaboration, which supports students in positioning their design practice and future development."
 
David Weatherhead, MA.RCA
Course Leader Product & Furniture Design MA, Kingston School of Art, Kingston University, London

"The Lethersellers Leather Surplus Project is a really valuable initiative that will help our students at London College of Fashion to become more informed about leather properties and types. Our leather-orientated disciplines include footwear, bags and accessories, jewellery and artefact at both undergraduate and post graduate level. The students are involved in pushing the boundaries in design whilst keeping traditional craftsmanship skills alive. The project will enable the students to access leather samples to do this, which many would find difficult to fund for themselves. We are very appreciative of the Leathersellers support through this very worthwhile endeavour. "

Lindsey Riley,  MA PGCE SFHEA CMgr
Associate Dean, School of Design and Technology,
London College of Fashion
"We would like to extend our sincere thanks to Abbey England for generously providing complimentary leather skins for our students to work with on their fashion design project briefs. We appreciate your support and the opportunity to collaborate with a company that shares our passion for innovation and excellence." 

Gavin Douglas, Programme Leader -BA Fashion Design and Technology, Manchester Metropolitan University

"At Matthew Boulton College Birmingham Fashion & Textiles department, we look forward to being part of the Surplus Leather Project, as recycling and sustainability is a major part of our curriculum.
 
To have this unique opportunity for our students to work with and experience quality British leather material to sample with, embellish and incorporate into their garment production, will benefit enormously their creative practice towards University."

Warren Malkin, Facilitator in Fashion, Clothing & Textile Design, Matthew Boulton College
"The Leather Surplus Project will continue to support us in our goal to provide specialist training and education to our students wanting to innovate and create beautiful works in leather."

Lee Mattocks, Senior Lecturer, Nottingham School of Art & Design

Nottingham Trent University
"At the RCA Technical spaces, we are growing our Footwear and Accessories department. We now cater for the demand for general leather making. We are upgrading our leather making machinery and currently adding to our masterclasses for leather hand stitching techniques. We are able to cut leather using our Zund machine, and students are experimenting with making new systems of joining (no sew) materials. Having these donations helps us to carry out teaching and exploration into this material, as well as aiding fashion student's to make their final garments from quality leathers. There are students who may be with us on receipt of the Leathersellers bursaries and scholarships especially benefiting and your donations are invaluable to them"
 
"The link we have with the Abbey Leather Surplus Project initiative is highly beneficial for our fashion students and also the wider student community working with this amazing material. Your generous support and donation helps fuel the  students' experimentation with new techniques and form building systems to develop their creative ideas."

Kelly Duncan , Specialist Technical Instructor in Pattern Cutting & Flora McLean, Senior Tutor in Fashion Footwear Accessories Millinery and Eyewear,  
Royal College of Art
"The donations of skins will be used in final year leather workshops and in several final years finished outfits and accessories. And used in portfolios as swatches within their fabric assortments across three separate collections. "
Jeffrey Thorpe, Principal Teaching Fellow in Fashion Design
Employability Lead, Director of Industrial Advisory Board 

"We are excited to be part of the surplus leather initiative as this puts into practice what we deliver through our curriculum; embedding responsible consumption, high quality craftsmanship and a design approach which encourages our students to consider a broad range of sustainability challenges in the fashion industry.”
Elaine Evans, Senior Teaching Fellow, Programme Leader in Fashion Design

"The leather will be used across all year groups within fashion, footwear & accessories. It will enable our first years to explore, experiment and learn about the qualities of this unique material. The second-year students will have access to this for their live project work which will be showcased on the catwalk in June here at UON. The third-year students will be able to select to support their final collections. Many thanks to both Abbey England Ltd and The Leathersellers’ for this opportunity. We have 50 students who will have access to the leather."

Vickie Dean, University of Northampton

"Knowledge of materials and sustainable working practices are key to learning Fashion Design at the University of South Wales. Leather donated to us enables our students to develop skills and appreciation of the creative potential of leather. "

Dr Torunn Kjolberg, PhD, MA, FHEA
Lecturer in Fashion Studies, University of South Wales
"With exceptionally kind donations like this our students continue to develop a deeper understanding of heritage craft, hands-on technical craftsmanship and innovation in materials, without the prohibitive costs for hides. Product, Furniture, Ceramics at the University of Staffordshire are incredibly grateful for these kind donations to enable us to sustain the longevity of heritage craft skills, whilst promoting ethical and sustainable practices. Without these partnerships, opportunities like this would not be possible and traditional skill sets would be lost further. "

Tim Forrester, Course Leader - BA (Hons) Product, Furniture, Ceramics, University of Staffordshire
"At West Dean we aim to provide students with access to the widest range of possible sample materials used through history in book construction. In this, leather is one of the most significant and diverse materials, and to have the opportunity through this donation to create a comprehensive teaching and handling collection is really exciting.'"

Victoria Stevens MA ACR FIIC
Subject Leader for Books and Library Materials
West Dean College
“Receiving a package of free surplus leather would enable students to work with high-quality materials that are often prohibitively expensive. This hands-on experience would foster creativity, allowing them to apply their knowledge in real-world scenarios. Students could experiment with essential leatherworking techniques, including stitching, dyeing, and shaping.

Additionally, this partnership would promote sustainable practices in design, teaching students the value of resourcefulness. Ultimately, access to surplus leather would enrich our curriculum, empowering students to develop their skills and confidence as emerging designers while championing sustainability in their work.”

Donna Kernan, Year Two Tutor , BA Fashion Design,
Westminster School of Arts

THE IMPACT

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We look forward to sharing the students' work and projects later in the academic year.

RESOURCES

For resources and guides, head over to the Leathersellers who have partnered with Leather Naturally, to produce an in-depth guide to leather.

Click HERE.