My Journey into Handmade Leathercraft - From Childhood Dreams to Lifelong Passion
My Journey into Tooled Leather - From Childhood Dreams to Lifelong Passion
There’s nothing wrong with keeping art as a quiet passion, something you turn to in spare moments.
But for some of us, that passion never fades — it keeps calling to the heart, asking to become something more.
I’m Udari, and ever since childhood, I’ve found joy in painting, drawing, and crafting. Those moments of creating always felt magical, yet life carried me in a different direction.
In 2017, I proudly graduated with a Bachelor of Science (BSc) degree in Molecular Biology, Chemistry, and Botany. It was an achievement I’ll always value, but deep inside, I knew my heart belonged to art. My heart still craved art - handmade leathercraft, and I often caught myself daydreaming about how to bring creativity back into my everyday life.
Rather than following a traditional career path, I decided to chase my dream of creating artistic pieces that bring beauty and meaning into the world.
What began as just a thought — a desire to try leather-craft — eventually grew into Bison Cabin, where I now create custom tooled leather wallets, leather bags, Apple Watch bands, and more.
Welcome to my little corner of craft.
The rhythmic sound of needling is oddly satisfying.
When Leather Found Me:
One day, while browsing online, I came across a beautifully crafted handmade leather wallet. Instead of buying it, I thought: Why don’t I try making one myself?
With unwavering support from my husband, I bought my first piece of leather and a few basic leathercraft tools. In 2019, I created my very first item: a hand-tooled leather phone case.
That project marked the beginning of my journey into artisan leathercraft, and it sparked a passion that would soon become the heart of my business.
The First Pieces I Made :
My very first tooled leather item, a phone case, was rough and imperfect, but I was excited right away. After that, I made a leather lighter case and a tooled leather wallet.
Each piece taught me something new about tooling techniques, the nature of leather, leather type, and craftsmanship. I was amazed by how quickly my skills were growing—and how deeply I connected with the process of creating handmade leather goods.
My very first tooled leather project—a simple leather-carved phone case that sparked everything.
My second creation—a handmade, tooled leather lighter case
My third piece, a hand-tooled leather wallet, was where I started developing my technique.
My fifth tooled leather piece — proof that I proved myself as a fast learner!
My Latest Hand-Tooled Leather Wallets :
After years of practice and countless projects, I’ve come a long way from that first rough-tooled leather phone case.
My most recent creations are two handmade leather wallets that truly reflect how much my craftsmanship has evolved. The tooling is more detailed, the stitching cleaner, and the designs more refined and functional.
Each new project continues to teach me something, but these custom leather wallets feel like a milestone in my journey as a leather artist.
My latest tooled leather men's wallets — The piece that reflects the progress I’ve made since the very beginning.
Want to see the finished pieces? View my latest wallets here,
My First Handmade Leather Sale—And the Secret Buyer :
Eager but nervous, I listed my very first hand-tooled leather phone case on Merukari, a Japanese online marketplace for handmade and secondhand goods. To my surprise, it sold just a few days later.
I was overjoyed. I carefully packed the order, and my husband helped me ship it. That first leather item sale gave me confidence—I thought, Maybe I really can do this.
But two years later, I discovered the truth:
The buyer was my husband all along. He had secretly purchased my item to encourage me—to show me that my craft was worth sharing with the world. When I found out, I cried.
His quiet belief in me, his support, and his love are the reasons I kept going. That secret act of encouragement was more than just a sale—it was the spark that fueled my journey as a leather artist.
See how far I’ve come—shop my latest handmade leather goods
My husband—my biggest supporter, cheerleader, and secret first customer.
Growing Into a Leather Artist :
From those first few handmade pieces, I gradually expanded into creating a wide range of custom leather goods, including wallets, purses, watch bands, AirPods cases, and more.
Driven by passion and craftsmanship, I launched Bison Cabin, a brand dedicated to hand-tooled leather accessories that blend function with artistry. My goal was simple: to share my work with people around the world who appreciate high-quality, handmade leather items.
Before long, I broke into the international leather goods market, successfully selling on platforms like Etsy and eBay, and building meaningful connections with customers worldwide.
Reaching Beyond Borders :
I always dreamed of sharing my craft with people outside of Japan—to connect through leather artistry, across cultures and continents.
That dream came true when I received my first international order: a customer from the United Kingdom purchased a hand-tooled leather lighter case. It may have seemed like a small item, but to me, it was a huge milestone.
That single sale marked the beginning of a new chapter in my leathercraft journey. It proved that my work could resonate across languages, styles, and borders. Since then, I’ve had the joy of creating and shipping custom leather pieces to buyers all over the world.
From that moment on, I knew I wasn’t just making leather goods—I was building bridges through my art.
Each Piece Is Functional Art :
Every item I make is more than just an accessory—it’s art you can hold. Each cut, every stitch, and every hand-tooled detail reflects:
My love for creativity
The traditional leathercraft skills I’ve mastered
And the support that helped me begin this journey
Whether it's a custom leather wallet, a handmade watch strap, or a tooled leather purse, I treat each piece as a unique, lasting work of art.
🛍️ Explore my handmade leather collection
Why This Journey Matters :
For me, leathercraft is more than just a profession—it’s a story of love, courage, and belief. When you choose a hand-tooled leather piece from my shop, you’re not just buying leather; you’re becoming part of that story.
If there’s one lesson my journey has taught me, it’s this: sometimes all it takes is one person to believe in you. For me, that person was my husband. Today, I carry that belief and encouragement into every piece I create.
Thank you for supporting handmade leather art and for being part of this journey.
Thank you for reading!
Author: Udari Adhikari
Founder of Bison Cabin
Follow my journey and handmade leather creations on,
✨ Explore my hand-tooled leather collection here.