The Story of Bowman Leather

Bowman Leather was born on my kitchen table in York, UK. After pursuing an academic career for years, I realised desk work wasn't my calling. So in my free time, I began handcrafting high-quality leather goods for friends and family, sourcing only the finest leather I could afford while honing my skills.

In 2020, I launched a modest Etsy shop featuring a few items like the Slim Shoulder Strap and other items like belts and glasses cases. Photography has long been a hobby, so I naturally started designing more camera straps and gradually expanded my collection.

2021 was the year that I quit my job and moved back to the farm where I grew up in Cumbria, England. The next couple of years were a whirlwind as my partner and I renovated an old stone barn into house, got married, converted a campervan and even had a baby. However, I still managed to squeeze in my leather work in between plumbing, plastering and poopy nappies!

Then in 2023, I decided to make Bowman Leather my full-time focus, concentrating on finely crafted, responsibly sourced leather goods for photography enthusiasts from my home on the edge of England's picturesque Lake District. I take pride in creating timeless designs that, thanks to the premium British vegetable tanned leather, only get better with age. My vision for Bowman Leather is to create high quality leather photography accessories which are interlaced with unique and creative ideas, all the while taking a responsible approach for the environment. 

Finally, as you can probably guess from the image, I like to spend my weekends hiking with my dog!