Neil MacGregor and Valerie Michael at Bentleys
This year at London Craft Week, Bentleys will launch their first two collaborations with Neil MacGregor; the first, a historically accurate re-creation of a Victorian Kit bag, and the second a bespoke leather shoe-trunk. Both pieces will use leather from J and FJ Baker and Co Ltd, Britain’s only remaining traditional oak bark tannery, and will provide a rare opportunity to compare side-by-side the work of today’s leading leather craftsman with the finest examples of luggage from more than a century ago.

After a fantastic response to last year's workshops, Valerie Michael will be hosting three more this year and teaching her students to hand-stitch a vegetable-tanned leather luggage tag. Running from 10am-1pm, classes are open to people of all ages and abilities and participants will be able to keep the results of their efforts. As author of "The Leatherworking Handbook", Valerie can call upon decades of experience in leather tuition – the workshops serve as an excellent taster for Neil and Valerie's week-long masterclasses hosted at their Tetbury studio. Booking essential, no experience required.

Neil MacGregor and Valerie Michael have an international reputation as designers and makers of fine, high quality, hand-stitched leather goods. They have been making by hand in an artisanal workshop in Tetbury, Gloucestershire, since 1974. They use only the best vegetable-tanned leathers and source or commission hardware in brass and silver. “Our designs aim to reveal something about the nature of leather and craftsmanship, while addressing the practical needs of our customers. The leathers we use are vegetable-tanned, the active ingredients coming from the bark and leaves of various trees and shrubs. We use no machinery in the making, preferring the direct simplicity of hand tools and the quiet rhythms of the workshop.” This year at London Craft Week, Bentleys will launch their first two collaborations with Neil MacGregor; the first, a historically accurate re-creation of a Victorian Kit bag, and the second a bespoke leather shoe-trunk. Both pieces will use leather from J and FJ Baker and Co Ltd, Britain’s only remaining traditional oak bark tannery, and will provide a rare opportunity to compare side-by-side the work of today’s leading leather craftsman with the finest examples of luggage from more than a century ago.