Leather Crafting Workshop

Make fine leather accessories with Master Craftsman Yusuf Osman



3.5 hours Class size 1 to 4 guests       £150

Learn one of the oldest crafts known to mankind at this leatherworking class in London with internationally renowned leather craftsman and designer, Yusuf Osman! Craft your own professionally finished leather goods using the same premium leather, tools and techniques used in my work. You will leave with leather goods made by you and personalised with your initials or a message. Whether you are leather curious or a serial crafter - this workshop will make a leather lover out of you!
Leather is one of the oldest materials and the only one that connects farm, food, fashion and beyond. We start by discussing my journey from lawyer to professional craftsman followed by a talk on the history of leather and its historical trade in London. We also have a comprehensive overview of tanning and current views on sustainability, ethics and welfare. You will leave with a deeper understanding of why leather is not just a material of the past but one that must be central to any conversation we have about a sustainable future. I also share my perspective on by engaging with life as craft we can navigate complex issues that we face as individuals and as a society; discover the relationship we want with ourselves, with each other, materials and the natural world and in doing so, cherish the threads that connect us all.
There will then be an overview of the crafting process, tools and how to use them and safety procedures before going on to choosing patterns and leather to make you chosen items.
You have a choice of beautifully coloured Italian Tuscan vegetable tanned leather and items you can select from. These have been cleverly designed with a modern minimal aesthetic and are suitable for all abilities, ages and genders, no stitching required!
You will work on the chosen project(s) with individual attention given throughout the class and we will finish by packing the items to take home or to give as a gift.
During this workshop you will learn:
  • Working with professional patterns and marking
  • Cutting leather accurately (also known as clicking)
  • Punching holes (guests love hammering!)
  • Shaping leather
  • Use a professional heated tool
  • Use a professional setting press
  • Burnishing leather (flesh side and also edges using traditional methods)
  • Using British made brass fittings to complete the look
The items you will can choose from are (make one or two items in classes depending on your speed and preference)
  • A leather clutch, pencil case, sunglasses case
  • A leather purse or cardholder
  • A leather valet tray
  • A leather bracelet or cuff
  • A leather lanyard or keychain
  • A leather keyholder
You can take what you learn from this workshop to start making leather goods at home with minimal tool investment!

Upcoming dates for Leather Crafting Workshop

Times are London time. Dates and prices as of 14 Oct 2026, 11:58am; availability and price are confirmed live when booking on this page.

8 upcoming dates between 24 Oct 2026 and 30 Jan 2027.

  • Sat 24 Oct 2026, 10am-1:30pm
  • Sat 31 Oct 2026, 10am-1:30pm
  • Sat 14 Nov 2026, 10am-1:30pm
  • Sat 21 Nov 2026, 10am-1:30pm
  • Sat 12 Dec 2026, 10am-1:30pm
  • Sat 19 Dec 2026, 10am-1:30pm
  • Sat 9 Jan 2027, 10am-1:30pm
  • Sat 30 Jan 2027, 10am-1:30pm
What you'll get
  • All tools and leather needed to make your chosen item to take home
  • Tea, coffee, and water
Read more details   
Knowledge required
  • Suitable for complete beginners and those with no prior experience.
  • You should be comfortable working standing up. There are stools if you need to rest or work sitting down. Training will be given however you should be comfortable working with sharp hand tools.
Suitable for

Suitable for adults, and kids (minimum 11 years old).

An adult must accompany any attending kids, and must pay for a separate ticket.

This experience would also be a unique gift for her, gift for mum, Xmas gift or gift for couples.

Location

Cockpit Arts - Deptford, 18-22 Creekside, SE8 3DZ, London

Leather Crafting Workshop location
Verified reviews


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Recent reviews of Leather Crafting Workshop

  • 5/5 from Lincoln Taylor, attended Jul 2025: Yusef is a wonderful teacher. Leatherwork can seem daunting at first but with his guidance I was able to really get stuck in and I’m proud of the items that I made in the session! There’s a good range of projects on offer and beautiful veg tanned leather to select from. I decided to make a sunglasses sleeve and a key holder and have since used both items in my day to day.
  • 5/5 from Loretta Wong, attended Oct 2024: Yusuf is skillful, knowledgeable and fun to spend with a tutor. He's organised and passionate about leather and art. The intro / little study about leather as a material is informative and interesting. Highly recommend!
  • 5/5 from Biba Fox, attended Sep 2024: The class was a birthday gift for my niece and I joined her for the class, we both really enjoyed it. We learnt about various types of leather and had a wonderful time making two pieces. Yusuf is a kind, patient and very thoughtful teacher. I highly recommend this class.
  • 5/5 from Maryk, attended Sep 2024: Unique, interesting, fun! I highly recommend this class. Learned a good deal and made two leather items that I treasure.
  • 5/5 from Abdullahi Adan, attended Aug 2024: Excellent experience I don't usually give five stars however the session covered a lot and for me it was the perfect introductory course.
  • 5/5 from Anonymised ClassBento customer, attended Aug 2024: We attended Yusuf’s leather crafting workshop this week. Not only did Yusuf accommodate us very last minute, but managed to cram a huge amount of content into only a couple of hours, covering everything from sustainability to technique. Beyond this, Yusuf was really friendly and an absolute pleasure to spend a couple of hours with. This wasn’t something we had planned for a long time, but having completed the workshop, we can’t recommend it enough. It’s very accessible and you leave with a personalised item or two that you made. Yusuf, thanks for being such a warm, kind and patient teacher. We had a great time!
  • 5/5 from Linda, attended May 2023: Highly recommend! Very engaging and interesting workshop. Yusuf is very knowledgeable and explains each step in the leather working very well.
  • 5/5 from Sarah Samuel, attended Mar 2023: Absolutely brilliant workshop. Yusuf is so knowledgable and a patient teacher - it was a lovely session and I'm delighted with the item I made.
  • 5/5 from Katty Janneh, attended Mar 2023: This class was a wonderful way to start my weekend. Yusuf was patient and attentive clearly going through what we would be doing in the workshop. Met some lovely people which was a bonus and, came away with a lovely small bag I can use as a crossbody. My sister and friends want to do one now! 1000% recommend!
  • 5/5 from Catherine Selwyn, attended Mar 2023: Fantastic workshop with Yusef - so interesting to learn about different leathers and how they are sourced and prepared- you cant help but pick up on Yusefs passion for his craft of leather. A beautiful studio setting with a relaxed atmosphere- learnt so many skills from a true master of his craft. Would definitely recommend and hope to return.
  • 5/5 from Carmen Stoleriu-Falchidi, attended Feb 2023: Yusuf is a very kind, professional and talented artist. He was accommodating and great with communication. I discovered him through TikTok and greatly enjoyed supporting his business and craft.
  • 5/5 from Bettina Parker-Macrae, attended Dec 2022: Amazing to complete two beautiful items in only a three hour session. So much fun!
  • 5/5 from Marilyn Ramdeen, attended Nov 2022: This Leathercraft workshop is highly recommended. Intimate group in a well organised, tidy well equipped studio. We learnt about the different types of leather and made two pieces which I am very proud of. Techniques on how to finish the pieces were shown using a selection of tools.Yusuf style of teaching in a relaxed and calm space encourages confidence in his learners.
  • 5/5 from Kim Slade, attended Nov 2022: Fantastic This was one of the best courses I have ever been on. Yusuf is an amazing teacher, he is engaging, patient and knowledgeable. I walked away, astounded, from the workshop with 2 pieces that I made in 3 hours, which look so professional. Even my family could not believe that I had made them. This was all due to Yusufs Master Craftsman approach to teaching and allowing me to experience the whole process from cutting the leather to applying the gold lettering. If you are at all interested in leatherworking, or want to try something different, then I highly recommend that you book this course and I promise you wont be disappointed.
  • 5/5 from Uzma Hakimi, attended Oct 2022: We had the pleasure of Yusuf teaching us how to create small leather accessories. It was an enriching experience with Yusuf giving us indepth knowledge of the world of leather and how to work with leather. A highly recommended course where you can have a laugh and learn!
  • 5/5 from Elena Rey, attended Aug 2022: I highly recommend the Yussico leather workshop. Yussuf is a really good and skilled teacher and his classes are relaxed and fun. The workshop is in a small group which allows him to almost personalize the class for each person and level. I'm not a complete beginner and I learned a lot during the 3 hours of class. Thanks a lot! I'll definitely be back to learn more!
  • 5/5 from Michael Batt, attended Jul 2022: I really enjoyed this workshop and was able to create 2 lovely looking projects if I do say so myself, which I later gave as gifts to my fianc and sister. Yusuf is knowledgeable and helpful making this workshop a great starting point in leather craft. 100% recommend.
  • 5/5 from Mooza Said, attended Jul 2022: I enjoyed this workshop and Yusuf was a wonderful and patient teacher. I benefited from his knowledge about leather. He supervised our work and gave many tips to help us. I made key holder and a small bag with letters printed on it. After completing this workshop I really value the craft and skill that goes into making leather goods. Thank you so much! I will definitely be going to another session.
  • 5/5 from Caroline, attended Jun 2022: This session was one of the best craft sessions I've taken, Yussico was super knowledgable about not only the craft itself but the history of leather as a material culturally. Learnt loads and made two pieces to take home - very much enjoyed the experience and would definitely recommend!
  • 5/5 from Marcus Roosen, attended Jun 2022: Yusef was so informative and helpful throughout the class. Spoke really well about the history and practice of leatherwork today to start the class as well as provided brilliant tips while we were making. Was awesome to take handmade items home too.
  • 5/5 from Jasmine, attended Jun 2022: This was my first leatherworking workshop and Yusuf was so patient with me. He taught me in great detail every single step, including how to choose the leather, cut the leather, glue them together, crim the edges, punch holes for stitching, saddle stitch and machine stitch, coat the edges etc all in one afternoon. I wanted to make a cardholder with a very specific design. It was so difficult to find a class that catered to this, but Yusuf helped me achieve exactly what I wanted. He even stayed an extra hour with me to finish off the cardholder, and I also made a cute leather bracelet. The lesson was worth every penny! Highly recommend and Ill be back again with friends :)
  • 5/5 from K Losowsky, attended Apr 2022: Great class, learnt a lot about leather, working with leather tools and techniques. Made a gorgeous purse, thanks to the skill of the tutor. Highly recommended if you want to know more about what you're doing and why and to make some lovely goods too.
  • 5/5 from W & E, attended Mar 2022: We had a great time at this leatherworking class! It is a very good introduction to leatherworking for beginners. Yusuf is an excellent teacher and was very thorough and patient, guiding us through each step. Weve already started using the items that we made at the class, and will definitely want to go back for some more!
  • 5/5 from Alex Bray, attended Mar 2022: A superb workshop. Yusuf is super cool and he made the session a lot of fun. We came away with some brilliant leather items - I highly recommend this!
  • 5/5 from Carlos, attended Feb 2022: This was a fantastically inspiring and enjoyable day, we had a great time and learned a lot, Yussef is a great teacher and we came away with some beautiful items we could really feel proud of. I highly recommend this course. Thank you!
  • 5/5 from Nicola, attended Feb 2022: This is an excellent course and Yusuf is a fantastic teacher. We had a great time learning about leather and how to work with it. The items we made are beautiful. I highly recommend this as a great way to spend time just learning and enjoying a new skill, or as a gift.
  • 5/5 from Zach King, attended Feb 2022: Zach loved this workshop and was really proud of the things he created and the skills he learnt - he's been showing everyone! Yussico was really knowledgeable, patient and a great teacher. Thank you, would recommend
  • 5/5 from Claire, attended Jan 2022: Fantastic class, Yusuf is an amazing craftsman and teacher. His class was really informative and insightful. It was great to come away with a beautiful leather purse knowing I'd made it myself. The studio is lovely and bright and Yusuf is a great host providing tea and cake to keep you crafting.
  • 5/5 from Kim, attended Jan 2022: Great course. Had a lovely time. Highly recommend this course to anyone interested in making small leather items. I came home with a leather valet tray and a leather bracelet. Wonderful.
  • 5/5 from Jacob Corbett, attended Jan 2022: It was an amazing class where I got to take home something special. The class is catered for everyone and you were not rushed to complete the tasks. It was the perfect mixture of learning about the leather industry and learning how to create something out of the leather.Would highly recommend!
  • 5/5 from M Darwish, attended Jan 2022: I thoroughly enjoyed the masterclass taught by Yusuf: he explained the history of leather making and how it revolves throughout the years. The knowledge and expertise he possesses are tremendous and I cannot recommend his workshop enough. Moreover, he is very kind and patient and will always reassure you as you embark on making your first masterpiece. I ended up making a beautiful leather tray that we are using to keep keys and coins. It looks really beautiful and has added a great touch of character and sophistication to our home.
  • 5/5 from Josie Josie, attended Nov 2021: I really enjoyed the session, the knowledge that Yusuf has on his craft is exceptional and the session was a great way to learn and practice the art of leatherworks. His products are a real inspiration to anyone looking to get into leatherworks. Thank you so much! I will definitely be going to another session.
  • 5/5 from Rohit Talwar, attended Nov 2021: Fantastic! Yusuf ran a wonderful, thought provoking workshop. Hes a warm, friendly person and the studio tells us a lot about his work- neat and pretty! We started with a lovely, insightful chat about leather and the global industry built around it, the inherent issues of animal welfare and the intricacies of working with different varieties of animal skin. We then got to working on our projects that we chose; Yusuf was incredibly patient and helpful and most of all generous with his input and help as we progressed. I thoroughly enjoyed the workshop and cant wait to learn more! If youre looking to learn anything leather, I cant recommend this enough. And please please support independent artists like Yusuf!
  • 5/5 from Jill Humphrey, attended Oct 2021: I thoroughly enjoyed my workshop with Yussico. Yusuf is a great teacher and I really enjoyed learning about different types and sources of leather before starting work on our projects. I made an envelope bag and a keyring, both of which look amazing. That's not down to my skill but the amazing design, teaching and guidance from Yusuf which made this such a rewarding activity. I would definitely recommend and I would definitely do another workshop with Yussico.
  • 5/5 from Safiya Safiya, attended Oct 2021: I had such an incredible time! The class was so interesting Yussef was so friendly and a wonderful teacher. Cant wait for the level 2 class!!
  • 5/5 from Amy Uppal, attended Oct 2021: Yusuf was so lovely- very knowledgeable about leather & taught our small group very well. Would definitely recommend his classes
  • 5/5 from Pratha, attended Sep 2021: It was a great class, taught very well, the master was well informed and a good teacher, will definitely recommend taking the class to my friends.
  • 5/5 from Simran Samra, attended Aug 2021: YUSSICO Workshop was the best and most original day out that Ive had in absolutely ages. The quality of the stuff is incredible, and I have a whole new appreciation for leather works. The teacher is amazing too! Its the best day out. I did it with mates which was great fun, would also be great as a date or a team building thing.
  • 5/5 from Tania Tania, attended Jun 2021: Absolutely LOVED his class! So relaxing and chilled. Learnt a lot. Very happy with my leather goodies I made. Have already told so many people to book. Would go again for sure!
  • 5/5 from Glena, attended May 2021: I thoroughly enjoyed the class, Yusuf was very informative and I was able to get a lot of great information to help me in my future endeavour. I would definitely take another class, as well as recommend it to those who want to gain more insight into the world of leather crafting.Yusuf was very professional as well as organised, and kept things clean and in order which I think is quite an important requirement in this time.
  • 5/5 from Saana Linna, attended Apr 2021: Great taster workshop to leather working. Yusuf was super friendly and I really liked that he started the workshop teaching me little bit of the properties of leather and importantly the sustainability of leather as a material.I made an elegant cardholder in beautiful orange leather. Yusuf instructed me clearly how to make the cardholder and I got to even punch my initials on the leather! We had a brilliant morning together chatting away in his lovely studio and making a leather piece. Thank you Yusuf
  • 5/5 from Vicki Opomu, attended Nov 2020: He was patient and informative. A brief history of leather craft and examples of his work was great. Great conversation!Definitely would go back for another lesson.
  • 5/5 from Sean Jacke, attended Oct 2020: Super interesting and extremely well done! I highly recommend this course for anyone wanting an enjoyable, informative and practical introduction to leatherwork.
  • 5/5 from Karen Sheldon, attended Aug 2020: We had a great time! I took my two sons aged 13 and 15 and was apprehensive about whether they would like it. My fears were completely unfounded as the workshop was a perfect combination of practical application with encouraging help with a bit of learning about the ancient art of leatherworking thrown in. I can definitely recommend it!
  • 5/5 from Gareth Jones, attended Aug 2020: Fun and informative class, and Yusef was very friendly and patient. We got to make nice items with good quality leather. Fun all round!
  • 5/5 from Rio Gonzalez, attended Jul 2020: Leather working with Yussico is a great way to be introduced to crafting. Through a general introduction to leather and its history you feel guided and comfortable to work on your own protect. We created two personalised garments from scratch in under two hours.Highly recommended, had a great time, would go back again.
  • 5/5 from Tauri Birken, attended Jul 2020: This workshop was amazing! Yusuf made sure that the studio was clean and we felt safe after this lockdown. The workshop itself was very interesting and a lot of fun. He gave an overview of the history of leather goods and different methods it's tanned etc. We had a nice selection of products which we could work on and also good choice of leathers with very nice tones. He helped us with working with the tools and gave good tips. After completing this workshop I really value the craft and skill that goes into making leather goods. Such a good workshop and I recommend people to go experience it!
  • 5/5 from Kerli T., attended Jul 2020: I had an amazing experience at Yusuf's workshop! The time flew by so fast, it was so interesting and engaging. Yusuf was very friendly and patient. His workspace met all the safety measures needed after the lockdown - it was clean, had good ventilation, on-site hand sanitizers, he wore a facemask and offered us one as well. I definitely felt safe and feel confident to recommend his class. The workshop was the best gift I've ever received.
  • 5/5 from Sarah Sloman, attended Feb 2020: Fantastic workshop..... We made had a choice of different colour leathers to use to make different amazing items. Yusuf (the master craftsman) was patient, yet encouraging. We came from Essex and York and it was well worth the journey. We will be back for another workshop.
  • 5/5 from Raju Ahmed, attended Feb 2020: I made the leather card holder and leather tray. Yusuf was really friedly and informative and gave a good introduction to leather and helped me through the process of producing each item, explaining why each of the processes were done. Really pleased with the end products. Thanks Yusuf!
Your teacher

YUSSICO
YUSSICO

5.0 (73)

YUSSICO is a leather goods label founded by award winning designer and leather craftsman, Yusuf Osman.
Ironically, Yusuf’s passion for making started whilst reading law at The London School of Economics where he thrived in the extracurricular. He continued to explore his creative side whilst training to be a solicitor. An avid workshop taker, he tried the gamut of crafts and discovered a passion for premium natural materials and a flair for working with his hands.
A chance weekend workshop in The Cotswolds introduced Yusuf to the world of traditional British leather craftsmanship and began a quest that has taken Yusuf all over the world to learn from the best and returning home to obsessively hone his skills in his home studio.
An all consuming hobby turned into a career when Yusuf moved into his current studio at Cockpit Arts Deptford to pursue leather-working full-time.
His work has been exhibited at the Walsall Leather Museum and featured in numerous publications such as the BBC and Crafts Magazine; he has taught leather-working to actor John Malkovich and magician Drummond Money-Coutts and he has worked with brands such as eBay and Jo Malone.
A winner of the Leathersellers' Award for three years in a row, and a keynote speaker for APLF Hong Kong and Bangkok, Yusuf now delivers workshops to students and brands across the globe. A member of The Heritage Crafts Association, he is passionate about keeping this traditional craft alive and passing his skills to future leatherworkers.
Yusuf sells his work, exhibits, speaks and teaches internationally from USA to India, Thailand, Hong Kong, Mexico and across Europe. His is a thought leader in the field of leather, craftsmanship and sustainability.

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class 0 1E57MXLBSX b30fa37a8c654059964d2a78c24cea95 1 production london London London GB london