We didn’t have a business plan, or a clear strategy, or even a name just a feeling.

It started sometime early in 2024. I was tidying up the attic when I came across an old teddy bear from my childhood. The stitches were coming loose, one eye was missing, and the fabric had faded in spots. But holding it, something shifted. It was like opening a window to something small and honest that modern life had quietly pushed aside.

Later that week, I started sketching bears. Not perfect ones, ones with character. Maybe a bent ear, maybe slightly uneven legs. And before I knew it, I had sewn my first prototype. It was rough. But it made people smile.

That’s when Leatherise quietly came into being.

We’re Small on Purpose

We’re not aiming for scale. Not trying to flood marketplaces or chase trends. Our workshop, nestled at 1512 Haight St, San Francisco, is tiny: three tables, a shelf of fabric rolls, and a kettle that whistles too often.

Each bear we make is slightly different on purpose. We don’t batch-produce. We don't outsource. We make them slowly, stitch by stitch, in a space where music plays softly in the background and afternoon light spills across the workbench.

The Soul of Leatherise

Why “Leatherise”? It’s not just about the material. It’s about a feeling. That warm, worn-in comfort. Like something handed down or rediscovered, something that’s lived with you, not just sat on a shelf.

We love using textures that age well: soft faux leather that creases over time and stitched details that fray just slightly with love. These aren’t perfect toys. They’re keepsakes in progress.

What Matters to Us

• Personality over polish
• Presence over packaging
• Quiet joy over big statements

Our bears aren’t just for children. Some sit on desks. Some are given in silence to say what words can’t. Some are reminders of people, places, or feelings long gone.

If You’ve Read This Far…

Thank you. Really. It means something. If you ever drop by the shop, don’t be surprised if we stop what we’re doing just to show you what’s new or to ask you what kind of bear you’d make if you could.

Leatherise isn’t just about bears. It’s about remembering softness in a world that moves too fast.

And if one of our bears finds its way into your hands, we hope it stays.