South Africa Leather Academy
Training Courses
Start your Leather craft Journey
Our leather craft courses, presented in the beautiful town of Malmesbury in the Western Cape, were developed exclusively by us to enable you to start your own home-based leather business.
Even if you have never worked with leather, we will teach you the essential skills to make top quality, genuine leather handbags or briefcases, travel bags, belts, and leather small goods in ten days. The courses are delivered experientially, and you will learn by making the items yourself.
Who should attend?
Anyone enthusiastic about working with leather and eager to learn new skills.
Individuals seeking an additional or alternative source of income
Creative minds wanting to design and craft their own unique leather items.
Entrepreneurs and small business owners looking to expand their product offering with handcrafted leather goods.
Please note:
No previous experience in leather work is required.
Training is done in English and/or Afrikaans.
We teach hand skills such as marking, cutting, assembly and saddle stitching, not machine manufacturing.
Training in hand stitching only (hand stitches cannot run, as in the case of machine stitching, and allows us to use a 16-strand, rot-free, waxed thread that is seated into the leather to prevent abrasion damage during use).
PAYMENT TERMS:
A 50% deposit is required to secure your booking and training dates.
The balance is due two weeks prior to the start of your course.
There are no refunds if you cancel within 30 days of the start of your course; however, you may receive a credit to be redeemed against the same course within 60 days, subject to course and/or space availability.
ACCOMMODATION & MEALS:
Preferential accommodation rates have been arranged for SALA students at the following guest houses:
9 Pinotage Guesthouse – Tel: 074 154 8678
Hebron Guesthouse – Tel: 064 674 5738
Students must contact the guest house directly and mention that they are attending a SALA course to qualify for the preferential rate.
Accommodation bookings and payments are made directly with the guest house.
Please note that accommodation and lunch is not included in the course fee. Students are responsible for bringing or purchasing their own lunch during the course.
View the Course Information
South Africa Leather Academy
Business Course
An intensive ten-day course designed to prepare you for your own business. You will receive your own start-up toolset together with all leather, hardware and fittings used to complete the course.
Training hours: 08:00 to 16:00
Maximum three delegates per course
No training on Saturdays and Sundays
What you will learn:
Diverse types of leather
Design and planning techniques
How to cut, hand dye, assemble and hand stitch leather products
Edge finishing
How to make a handstitched belt, handbag or sling bag, a travel bag, and a variety of small goods
What you will receive:
All leather, fittings and consumables used during training.
All the prescribed products that you have made during course hours (to the value of R6000).
Seventy-five hours tuition in classic handmade leather product manufacturing, based on more than 30 years of experience.
A start-up set of essential leather tools to enable you to start your business when you get home (to the value of R3500).
A comprehensive training manual on the hand manufacturing of leather products and additional information on preferred suppliers, material sourcing and marketing ideas.
South Africa Leather Academy
Short Course
Training hours: 08:00 to 16:00
Maximum three delegates per course
No training on Saturdays and Sundays
What you will learn:
Diverse types of leather
Basic design and planning techniques
How to make a handstitched belt, handbag or sling bag and small goods
Edge finishing
How to cut, hand dye, assemble and hand stitch leather products
COST: R15 000
What you will receive:
All leather, fittings and consumables used during training.
All the prescribed products that you have made during course hours (to the value of R4000).
Thirty hours tuition in classic handmade leather product manufacturing, based on more than 30 years of experience.
A comprehensive training manual on the hand manufacturing of leather products and additional information on preferred suppliers, material sourcing and marketing ideas.
South Africa Leather Academy
One-Day Course
Training hours: 08:00 to 16:00
Maximum five delegates per course
No training on Saturdays and Sundays
What you will learn:
How to make a hand-stitched belt
What you will receive:
All leather, fittings and consumables used during training.
All the prescribed products that you have made during course hours (to the value of R750).
COST: R1 600
