about/contact/leather thoughts

boilerplate: Wilder Leather embraces scars, natural markings, and color variations of authentic leather. Leather changes over time as it becomes exposed to natural oils, sunlight, moisture, etc. With proper care, these leather creations will age well. Wilder Leather's handmade goods are crafted by Sarah Wilder in her little studio/shed in Woodstock, NY. wilderleather18@gmail.com

latest thoughts (7/17/25): the vision is cohesive'ish: a way to have all disparate leather'ings converge and congeal-- that the hardcore rocking belt/bag hybrid in black with red lined slashes is near the slouchy and soft big slouchy slouch; by the sweeping luscious leathery leaf bags in olive, mustard, black, and teal; above the dangly earrings in moby-white and bleeding heart red and pitch ghost black; and for good measure (hope and awareness,) the present-moment single and double-wrap bracelet (because it's just YOU under there-- beneath the antique brass o-ring that could otherwise be a watch— not a portal, which is a great selling point, I must say…) in soft black and neutral brown… all are seen as a cohesive collection, which is the point, and what’s happening... and then you look again and there are BELTS!! loads!! in various widths (3/4”, 1”, 1.25”, 1.5”) and colors (black/brown/white—though if I can I would love to add RED as well) with solid antique brass buckles and a variety of other playful one off whimsical and/or edgy options as well—rocking little belts and huge hulking ones, too. I hunt high and low for buckles, and love when they fly away. and then there are the wallets-- and the pouches-- and the tarot card pouches, (good lord, YES, the tarot card pouches!!)-- as a pouch with leather cord, or just as a clutch-- all of these-- all together now, as the beatles say-- in one booth, under one auspice, as: WILDER LEATHER. 

i've been leathering since 2019. the road started pretty rock'ing and edgy-- lots of slashes and rivets and hard angles- and it's come around to something that includes softer lines as well. and no lines at all, even. the yin and the yang, to be cliche, but also truthful-- summoning adjustment. it’ll probably always include a nod to the edge, and beyond it sometimes, but beyond the rock there’s also the rock-steady, on the other side of the divide-- or through it, depending on the journey. i'm happy to make an endless stream of bucket bags, and have done so for months on end—thankfully. and circle bags and zipper bags—when they come, (aka I make them,) they go-- the latter being the perfect thing for a big day in the city. or a weekend. or a week. or a lifetime. i've also discovered that a hybrid belt bag is nice and well received just as a BAG anymore, without the hybrid option, so some of what i've made into hybrids in the past are now just: bags. sans hybridity. there are also new levels of exploration and understanding with the dye-- techniques that seem to dream themselves up, like the most recents I’ve done in blue+red= purple or green, depending on the mixture; fresh bicolor slashings, and other textures all together (medusa spirals went pretty well this summer…) gusto helps. is a thing. a compulsion. as does: “keep it sanguine”—an old axiom of mine that lasts and lasts; because: sanguine!

that said-- basically and ultimately, what i want to say is that my vision is to keep on keeping on-- to keep making leather things that sing and sling, that stand out, that aren't your usual cup-o-chamomile (though i love a good, soft chamomile). experiments: definitely. the tried and true, too: by all means (pun). i'll add that i'm keen to stay excited and green about it all. and need more green leather things, as well... i'm passionate about my craft, and excited to share what i've been dreaming up, sitting near, and executing with fresh eyes. ~sw