About the leather artist

Tori Griffin

East Tennessee Leather Artist

Art doesn’t have to be on a canvas, and it doesn’t have to spend its life hanging on a wall.

I craft one-of-a-kind, hand-tooled leather pieces that are meant to be used.

In Appalachia, we know that there is beauty in everyday hard work. I strive to embody that ideal in my leatherwork, blending function and art.

And when I say my work is handmade, it’s handmade with traditional methods. No machines, no shortcuts.

Welcome, y’all

I craft every Griffin Leathercraft piece by hand in my home studio in East Tennessee.

You won’t find drum-dyed leather or sewing machines here. Every single step of the process is done using traditional methods.

Sure, machines are faster. But you’ll never convince me that efficiency is worth sacrificing the connection an artisan has to the piece.

I treat every single side of leather with respect, and I hope you can feel that in each wallet and notebook.

FAQs

Why limited releases?

My passion isn’t in creating hundreds of the same item. It’s in crafting new designs and unique artwork. I put all of my energy and heart into every piece I create. Because of that, I release a very small number of pieces at a time.

Where do you get your leather?

My leather hides are from Wickett & Craig tannery in Pennsylvania. Wickett & Craig sources hides from North American cattle, is certified for its environmental sustainability practices, and provides consistently beautiful vegetable tanned leather.

How did you get started with leatherworking?

One day, I filled up my writing notebook and went to find another. The mass-produced, cheaply made options I found were not doing it for me, so I decided to try to make one. This led to an obsession passion that filled my house with hides and tools. I see the items a I make as pieces of art that will be used and will contribute to folks’ lives.

Do you teach leatherworking?

Yes, I have taught leatherworking classes at the Appalachian Arts Craft Center in Norris, Tennessee.

What is traditional leatherworking?

In my traditional leatherworking practice, I do not use modern machinery. Many leatherworkers will use machines to cut, stitch, and burnish the leather. While this is certainly faster, something is lost in the race for efficiency.

Instead, I do everything by hand. I cut with an antique round knife I restored early in my leatherworking journey. I saddle stitch all pieces by hand, which results in much stronger stitching. And I spend hours burnishing and finishing my leather the old-fashioned way—because I believe it’s worth it.