Tactile Craftworks Leather

Tactile Craftworks is a small leather crafting company based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, founded in 2014 by Sarah Heck and Anna Warren. Tactile Craftworks strives to make pieces that are long-lasting, beautiful to look at, and satisfying to hold. All of their products are made in their midwest studio. "We love how visceral working with leather is: it's all sharp knives, metal stamps and rawhide mallets. While that rough process is always apparent in the leather, we're intentional about achieving refined results," says Anna. "We are always playing with the perceptions of leather as a material, how it is substantial and durable but also seen as fine and handsome. We aim to create products that balance these qualities." Tactile Craftworks' goods are most inspired by the idea of place and our emotional responses to both home and travel. "We consider ourselves lucky to be a tiny part of a traditional craft, and we feel a sense of responsibility to work hard at it. We try to honor the craftsmanship that has come before us, while trusting our own eyes and aesthetics," says Sarah. The business partners take pride in how they’ve been able to combine old world crafting techniques with modern technology to create new products. Handcrafting is the heart of what they do - and laser etching allows them to add another dimension to our work, one that enhances our craftsmanship rather than replacing it.