South Africa Leather Academy

TAKING THE MYSTERY OUT OF LEATHER CRAFT SINCE 1983

The South Africa Leather Academy (SALA) offers a variety of leather product design and manufacturing courses that will teach you how to manufacture high-quality, genuine leather handbags, travel bags, belts, and other leather smalls.

hand-crafted leather goods courses
leather product design and manufacturing courses
South Africa Leather Academy
leather product design and manufacturing courses
South Africa Leather Academy

We have a course designed for you whether you want to acquire a new skill, establish a small business, create world-class products, become more creative, or simply have fun!

SALA
variety of leather product design and manufacturing courses

SALA has trained over seven hundred students from as far away as Belgium, Brazil, Dubai, the Netherlands, Russia, the United Kingdom, the United States, the entirety of Africa, and South Africa.

Our one-of-a-kind courses are based on the more than three decades of experience of Frik van Jaarsveld, South Africa’s last remaining true leather craftsman.

The mission of SALA, which is based in the picturesque town of Wellington in the Western Cape, is to promote the manufacturing of traditional hand-crafted leather goods.

Our training is very hands-on and conducted in a real workshop, as we concentrate solely on producing items by hand.

Business Course

An intensive ten-day course designed to prepare you for your own business.

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Short Course

A five-day short course designed to teach you essential leathercraft skills.
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Leather Craft Workshop

A one-day introduction to leather craft.
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Testimonials from our students

“The Leather Craft Academy has put an amazing course together! It is not only fun but also hard work. One gains a huge amount of practical experience, rammed into the course. During the course you make a variety of products to equip you with the basic knowledge, experience, and necessary skills to handle the different tools and be efficient in designing new projects. When you are done with the course you can continue making products of a very high standard. It is more than just leather and long working hours, it is about meeting great people and building friendships. This course will give you more than you bargained on! ”
Anelle Human
☆☆☆☆☆
“The Leather Craft Academy has put an amazing course together! It is not only fun but also hard work. One gains a huge amount of practical experience, rammed into the course. During the course you make a variety of products to equip you with the basic knowledge, experience, and necessary skills to handle the different tools and be efficient in designing new projects. When you are done with the course you can continue making products of a very high standard. It is more than just leather and long working hours, it is about meeting great people and building friendships. This course will give you more than you bargained on!”
Anelle Human
Anelle Human
“I am happy to recommend the SA Leather Academy leather craft workshop offered by Frik van Jaarsveld. I am astounded at how much I learned in just two weeks. I started off as an utter novice and now I feel quite confident and competent to make beautiful things out of leather. The course is well thought-out and presented. It is instructive, hard work and good fun. It caters for those who want to make a career out of leather work and those who want to pursue it as a hobby. Leather is a wonderfully versatile medium and one can do amazing things with it. I want to thank Frik for introducing me to leather and teaching me to love it.”
Willem Hendriks
☆☆☆☆☆
“I am happy to recommend the SA Leather Academy leather craft workshop offered by Frik van Jaarsveld. I am astounded at how much I learned in just two weeks. I started off as an utter novice and now I feel quite confident and competent to make beautiful things out of leather. The course is well thought-out and presented. It is instructive, hard work and good fun. It caters for those who want to make a career out of leather work and those who want to pursue it as a hobby. Leather is a wonderfully versatile medium and one can do amazing things with it. I want to thank Frik for introducing me to leather and teaching me to love it.”
Willem Hendriks
Willem Hendriks
“I have been involved with a leather company for the last two and half years and wanted a better base knowledge on the manufacture and construction of a finished product that would help me with my designs – I have only ever contract manufactured. After much research and an opportunity to attend a leather working course in Italy for 6 weeks, I decided to choose the SALA course because on recommendations from other people and the times available. The choice turned out to be one of real serendipity and I still cannot believe what we were taught and were able to make in just two weeks – even for someone like me who is not what one would consider a “natural student.” Frik’s expertise and knowledge is unparalleled. The course was truly life changing – an amazing experience that comes highly recommended! ”
Shayle Duckworth
Pentolfe Leather Co.
☆☆☆☆☆
“I have been involved with a leather company for the last two and half years and wanted a better base knowledge on the manufacture and construction of a finished product that would help me with my designs – I have only ever contract manufactured. After much research and an opportunity to attend a leather working course in Italy for 6 weeks, I decided to choose the SALA course because on recommendations from other people and the times available. The choice turned out to be one of real serendipity and I still cannot believe what we were taught and were able to make in just two weeks – even for someone like me who is not what one would consider a “natural student.”  Frik’s expertise and knowledge is unparalleled. The course was truly life changing – an amazing experience that comes highly recommended!”
Shayle Duckworth – Pentolfe Leather Co.
Shayle Duckworth
Pentolfe Leather Co.
“Five stars! I attended the course in March 2021, and it was fantastic. The knowledge shared during the two weeks gives you a great understanding of working with leather, the leather industry and anything else you will need to know to make your own handcrafted goods, you will learn from the best. A huge thank you to Frik and May for the great opportunity, I highly recommend the course! ”
Sandra Hörbst
☆☆☆☆☆
“Five stars! I attended the course in March 2021, and it was fantastic. The knowledge shared during the two weeks gives you a great understanding of working with leather, the leather industry and anything else you will need to know to make your own handcrafted goods, you will learn from the best. A huge thank you to Frik and May for the great opportunity, I highly recommend the course!”
Sandra Hörbst
Sandra Hörbst
“This is a fantastic workshop! The SA Leather Academy team has years of experience and passion for leather artistry they happily pass on. Excellent staff, training, and meals! A special thanks to Frik and May! ”
Hennie Odendal
☆☆☆☆☆
“This is a fantastic workshop! The SA Leather Academy team has years of experience and passion for leather artistry they happily pass on. Excellent staff, training, and meals! A special thanks to Frik and May!”
Hennie Odendal
Hennie Odendal
“Training on leather crafting. Frik and Anja are very talented at what they do! I enjoyed every moment of my training! I learned so much, I have confidence now, more than ever to produce leather products.”
Esme van Dyk
☆☆☆☆☆
“Training on leather crafting. Frik and Anja are very talented at what they do! I enjoyed every moment of my training! I learned so much, I have confidence now, more than ever to produce leather products.”
Esme van Dyk
Esme van Dyk
“Makes you feel confident in the craft and gets you set and ready for your future leather dreams.”
Renee Kitching
☆☆☆☆☆
“Makes you feel confident in the craft and gets you set and ready for your future leather dreams.”
Renee Kitching
Renee Kitching