Making an alligator skin wallet
The goal with this commission was to duplicate an all time favorite Hermes wallet that had become worn, torn, stretched, and generally beat up. Having the original on hand at the design table made it a lot easier to figured out the pattern and construction details. Copying an existing design is actually a great way to learn! Aside from using a skiving machine to thin out the edges of the inside pockets, the wallet was made entirely by hand, including all the stitching. Here are a few photos from the process.
Photo credit: all photos owned by Leather Art Center © 2021
