Cockpit Arts

Step into a magical studio and learn one of the oldest crafts known to mankind! Craft your own professionally finished leather goods using the same premium leather, tools and techniques used in my work. You will leave with leather goods as made by you and personalised with your initials or a message. Whether you are leather curious or a serial hobbyist - this workshop will make a leather lover out of you!

We start by discussing my journey from lawyer to professional craftsman followed by a talk on the history of leather and its historical trade in London. We also have a comprehensive overview of tanning and current views on sustainability, ethics and welfare. 

There will then be an overview of the crafting process, tools and how to use them and safety procedures before going on to choosing patterns and leather to make you chosen items.
You have a choice of items you can select from (please see photos). These have been cleverly designed with a modern minimal aesthetic and are suitable for all abilities, ages and genders. 

You will work on the chosen project(s) with individual attention given throughout the class and we will finish by packing the item to take home or to give as a gift.

During this workshop you will learn:
- Working with professional patterns and marking
- Cutting leather accurately (also known as clicking)
- Punching holes (guests love hammering!)
- Shaping leather
- Use a professional heated tool
- Burnishing leather (flesh side and also edges using traditional methods)
- Using British made brass fittings to complete the look

The items you will can choose from are:
- A leather purse or cardholder
- A leather valet tray
- A leather bracelet or cuff
- A leather lanyard or keychain
- A leather keyholder

You can take what you learn from this workshop to start making leather goods at home with minimal tool investment!

- If you cannot see a date that suits, please use the Flexitime option to request a day. I can usually accommodate most requests! ;)

Leatherworking with a Master Craftsman

Fine Leatherworking with a Master Craftsman

Ashley

Yusuf was super knowledgeable about all aspects of leatherwork.  I enjoyed learning that leather is actually part of a sustainable supply chain. It was a great introductory class and makes me want to try more projects.  

Jennifer C

It was great class! The class helped me learn the basic of leather crafting.  He is a very knowledgeable teacher. I highly recommend this class. 

Brenda

Their is no better teacher then Yusuf,  so much patience to explain every detail, so passionate about teaching ! thank you so much for this wonderful course i could attend.

Caroline

Yusuf is really nice and very knowledgeable, he informed us very well and we made a small pouch without stitching which makes a nice souvenir to a fun workshop!  Highly recommend!

Natalia

YUSSICO was a very nice person. He put his passion and effort into his craftmanship and teaching.

Laura

I learnt basic leather crafts, different types of leather articles. Tanning, leather crafting tools. Yusuf was very informative and generous in sharing his experience and knowledge. His venue is very comfortable and well organized.

Oussama 

A unique experience with a passionate craftsman. Yusuf is also a patient teacher and shares his passion generously. 
What a great opportunity to discover the tools of a craftsman, and work with the same tools he uses to make his unique and creative leather products ! 
Yusuf was attentive to everyone in the class, and provided advice and ecouragment, which I definitely needed as I am rather clumsy with my hands...
Now I have my own self-handmade leather product ! and so proud of it !! 

Aroub

I spent three days in the workshop with Yusuf making an ostrich pouch with crocodile accents. It was a wonderful time and I learned a few things regarding reinforcement, skiving, linings, and how to deal with ostrich leather. 


Make a Sustainable Leather Cardholder or Purse

Viktorija

I learned how to make a beautiful cardholder, while learning about leather and the craft of creating leather goods. Yusuf was exceptional and knowledgeable teacher, so patient and passionate about his craft. We got to use professional tools and were guided and encouraged along the way. It was such an enjoyable experience accompanied with a good cup of tea and lovely snacks. Can’t recommend it enough! 

Fatma Al-Baiti

I would highly recommend this! Yusuf ran the workshop professionally. He started it by giving the attendees some valuable information about leather and its history. He then put forward a couple of items and gave us the freedom to choose what we wanted to make. I loved how he let us use all his tools and he explained each step in the making clearly. You can tell how passionate he is, which always makes it more enjoyable. 

Make a Leather Cardholder or Purse

M Rahman

This was a fascinating class.

Yusuf was a great teacher - friendly, relaxed, and easy to follow. He started the class by telling us about the history of leatherwork, explaining the different ways leather is processed and letting us see and touch different kinds of leather. It was really fascinating and fun. He also provided drinks and snacks, and the atmosphere was friendly and relaxed.

After that we moved to the practical part of the workshop. Yusuf gave us the opportunity to choose what we wanted to make: you could make a purse/cardholder, keyring, cuff or tray. The templates he provided us with were easy to use and every step of the way he offered individualised advice and support. We used the same tools that he uses to craft his leather items. I have absolutely no DIY skill but I never felt that he was impatient or unsupportive! 

I was delighted with my keyring and leather cuff. Yusuf provides workshop attendees with high quality vegetable-tanned leather of a vibrant colour to work with and it's great to be able to leave the class with a beautiful item that you've made yourself. 

Benjamin Bonte

I had the opportunity to attend this course with two friends and I have a very good time. Yusuf made it very interesting and entertaining. 
I felt very clumsy while manipulating the tools used for the leather craft, but thanks to Yusuf’s guidance and patience everything went smoothly and I ended up with a beautiful leather item!
I highly recommend this course.

Anabel Dorman

Amazing experience, such a pleasure learning from a very profesional and passionate teacher. Highly recommended, perfect as gift experience to share with a friend or partner.

julie reeder

I really enjoyed this class - it was my first time working with leather and Yusuf was very patient and friendly and knowledgeable.  Would definitely recommend this as a great taster session!

Mehrunnisa Yusuf

Yussi was really welcoming. I found the primer on leather, particularly from the sustainability angle to be really interesting. I also enjoyed the attention to detail. 

Erik

It was well worth the journey from the opposite side of London. Me and my partner had a great time with Yusuf at his workshop. The skill level was spot on for two complete beginners and Yusuf was both friendly and knowledgable. Highly recommended!

Mike

I had a lot of fun at this workshop. I've dabbled with a few crafts but always had an interest in leather, and a love for long-lasting goods. From a warm welcome, a passionate overview of leatherworking history and evolution of the craft, to diligently managed tuition I made a really cool card wallet and thoroughly enjoyed my time, and have a better idea of what I'd need to do and buy if decide to take up this hobby too! Thanks Yusuf!

Angela

We learnt a lot of techniques and were able to practise our new skills a couple of times. There was a good choice of leather and also a choice of what to make which was great. The teacher was really knowledgeable which was great!

Ruth

I have had a wonderful time learning about leather working, not only the practical skills but also the information given about working with leather. It has been a welcoming and comfortable environment to learn something new and gain confidence in leather working. The teacher was friendly open and very supportive and I throughly enjoyed the workshop.

Jamie

An absolutely brilliant experience with a super knowledgable and friendly host, Yusuf. I learnt a bunch and Yusuf was great at helping out and giving tips and tricks when needed. 10/10 would recommend!

Danny

What a fantastic experience. Yusuf was a fantastic host and really knows his stuff, helping me understand the basics of the craft. I would highly recommend this course.

Saif

Had an excellent evening with Yusuf. Wonderful chap. Really friendly and knowledgeable about leather working. Learned a lot and really enjoyed myself. Great atmosphere in the small group. Highly recommended

Halima

What to do in London while on holiday? Just come and make! A different experience than usual sightseeing by learning something different. I had practiced how to make my own leather goods and the experience was just wonderful. Thank you YUSSICO for this opportunity and I do recommend people to come and try this leather crafting.

Pablo R

I had the chance to go to this class on a 1 on 1 basis with Yusuf and it was an amazing experience. From the history of leather with some tea  to the creation of the pieces it was extremely enjoyable and knowledgeable  and compared to other leather working classes you get a lot for your money. I really recommend it to any beginner, remotely or very interested in the craft as you will come out it wanting to do more. 

Aimee

Can't recommend this class enough - educational and lots of fun in a lovely studio setting! Yusuf is a friendly and very skilled teacher and the products we made were far more professional than I expected having had no previous experience with leather. My Christmas gifts are sorted, although I'm tempted to keep them for myself! 

susie

Thank you for an amazing workshop! I really enjoyed the session learning about the process and making beautiful leather products. I was really amazed with the professional outcomes from the class and felt like it was a really relaxing atmosphere. This is definitely a brilliant introduction to leather work in a beautiful setting- highly recommended!

Marga

lovely course - very informative and easy to follow instructions. love the two items I can now take home and use as well! would highly recommend this course

Franziska

Great high quality leather craft workshop! Thank you for the informative, patient, well organised workshop.

Yen yu

Amazing workshop. Yusuf is so knowledgeable and helpful. I made a little purse and key ring. super satisfied with my own creations!


Sampada Gurung 

I reallly enjoyed the workshop ! Yusuf was really lovely and learnt a lot about leather and how sustainable it can be . I always wanted to make my own leather purse and really glad I could make one myself and not just buy it . Really special way to make something that I will keep forever and always cherish . Would 100% recommend this workshop for anyone and everyone ! And also really nice we got to make a keyring which was a added bonus and also took picture of us while working . I love the studio and workshop and vibe. 

Thank you!!! 

Nicola Murfitt

I had a brilliant time at the Leatherworking workshop leaving with a lovely pink purse. Yusuf knows his craft inside out & taught me so much about sustainable Leather, which was fascinating and enjoyable in itself - then we moved onto making an item from Leather - Yusuf takes his time teaching and helps everyone individually- giving feedback along the way so even though it takes a lot of skill, you feel confident and leave with something you can Instagram ;) I’ll be back. 

Smriti

Learnt how to make a beautiful purse! Yusuf was very friendly, informative and patient. The class size was perfect for the venue. Would highly recommend!

Ana Rai 

I booked the leather workshop for my friend and I as a birthday gift, Yusuf was so kind to accommodate us with the date and the time. He was also very helpful with the payment as I was having some issues using the link online. 
He was kind enough to send me the exact location of the studio and gave us clear directions to find it. I have enjoyed myself so much that I will be coming back for a couple more classes. The class itself was so informative and interesting. 

Alice

My mum and I attended this class together. We were both able to make two things - a tray each, and I made a cuff and my mum a keyring. Yusuf started by giving us a really interesting talk on the history and sustainability of leather, and then gave very clear instructions and support on making our items, while keeping us supplied with tea! The venue is part of a block of artists studios, and comfortable, with a large area to work at. Yusuf was really friendly and supportive and didn't mind us going a bit over time to finish our items. I would add that not all the leather colours will be available, as I think he uses offcuts from his other work - I was initially hoping to use a colour which wasn't available, but I really liked the colour I did use in the end. The class isn't cheap, but we were happy with what we made and really enjoyed our day!

Alex

Yusuf was great, really knowledgeable and passionate about his subject.  A very good teacher and really enthusiastic.  The class was a good size, really good fun and I have already used my purse!

Maira

I made a key ring for my friend and a purse for myself today. I had very good time! And Yusuf was an amazing teacher!! I really recommend his workshop!! Thank you so much Yusuf :)!!

Zi Wang

Knowleadgeable teacher, top quality tools and leather! The products I made look professional and polished. Overall a great introduction to leather making and I look forward to making more things on my own at home.

Raju Ahmed

I made the leather card holder and leather tray. Yusuf was really friedly and informative and gave a good introduction to leather and helped me through the process of producing each item, explaining why each of the processes were done. Really pleased with the end products. Thanks Yusuf!

Sarah Sloman

Fantastic workshop ..... We made had a choice of different colour leathers to use to make different  amazing items . Yusuf ( the master craftsman ) was  patient , yet encouraging . 
We came from Essex and York and it was well worth the journey . 
We will be back for another workshop.

Kerli T.

I had an amazing experience at Yusuf's workshop! The time flew by so fast, it was so interesting and engaging. Yusuf was very friendly and patient. His workspace met all the safety measures needed after the lockdown - it was clean, had good ventilation, on-site hand sanitizers, he wore a facemask and offered us one as well. I definitely felt safe and feel confident to recommend his class. The workshop was the best gift I've ever received. 

Tauri Birken

This workshop was amazing! Yusuf made sure that the studio was clean and we felt safe after this lockdown. The workshop itself was very interesting and a lot of fun. He gave an overview of the history of leather goods and different methods it's tanned etc. We had a nice selection of products which we could work on and also good choice of leathers with very nice tones. He helped us with working with the tools and gave good tips. After completing this workshop I really value the craft and skill that goes into making leather goods. Such a good workshop and I recommend people to go experience it!

Rio Gonzalez

Leather working with Yussico is a great way to be introduced to crafting. Through a general introduction to leather and its history you feel guided and comfortable to work on your own protect. 
We created two personalised garments from scratch in under two hours.
Highly recommended, had a great time, would go back again. 


Gareth Jones

Fun and informative class, and Yusef was very friendly and patient. We got to make nice items with good quality leather. Fun all round! 

karen sheldon

We had a great time! I took my two sons aged 13 and 15 and was apprehensive about whether they would like it. My fears were completely unfounded as the workshop was a perfect combination of practical application with encouraging help with a bit of learning about the ancient art of leatherworking thrown in. I can definitely recommend it!

Sean Jacke

Super interesting and extremely well done! I highly recommend this course for anyone wanting an enjoyable, informative and practical introduction to leatherwork.

vicki opomu

He was patient and informative. A brief history of leather craft and examples of his work was great. Great conversation!Definitely would go back for another lesson.

saana linna

Great taster workshop to leather working. 
Yusuf was super friendly and I really liked that he started the workshop teaching me little bit of the properties of leather and importantly the sustainability of leather as a material.
I made an elegant cardholder in beautiful orange leather. Yusuf instructed me clearly how to make the cardholder and I got to even punch my initials on the leather! 
We had a brilliant morning together chatting away in his lovely studio and making a leather piece. 
Thank you Yusuf 

Glena 

I thoroughly enjoyed the class, Yusuf was very informative and I was able to get a lot of great information to help me in my future endeavour. I would definitely take another class, as well as recommend it to those who want to gain more insight into the world of leather crafting.

Yusuf was very professional as well as organised,  and kept things clean and in order which I think is quite an important requirement in this time.

Tania

Absolutely LOVED his class! So relaxing and chilled. Learnt a lot. Very happy with my leather goodies I made. Have already told so many people to book. Would go again for sure! 

Simran Samra

YUSSICO Workshop was the best and most original day out that Ive had in absolutely ages. The quality of the stuff is incredible, and I have a whole new appreciation for leather works. 
The teacher is amazing too! Its the best day out. I did it with mates which was great fun, would also be great as a date or a team building thing. 

Pratha  Goyal 

It was a great class, taught very well, the master was well informed and a good teacher, will definitely recommend taking the class to my friends. 

Amy Uppal

Yusuf was so lovely- very  knowledgeable about leather & taught our small group very well.  Would definitely recommend his classes

Safiya

I had such an incredible time! The class was so interesting Yussef was so friendly and a wonderful teacher. Can’t wait for the level 2 class!! 

Jill Humphrey

I thoroughly enjoyed my workshop with Yussico.  Yusuf is a great teacher and I really enjoyed learning about different types and sources of leather before starting work on our projects.  I made an envelope bag and a keyring, both of which look amazing.  That's not down to my skill but the amazing design, teaching and guidance from Yusuf which made this such a rewarding activity.  
I would definitely recommend and I would definitely do another workshop with Yussico.  

Rohit Talwar

Fantastic! Yusuf ran a wonderful, thought provoking workshop. He’s a warm, friendly person and the studio tells us a lot about his work- neat and pretty! We started with a lovely, insightful chat about leather and the global industry built around it, the inherent issues of animal welfare and the intricacies of working with different varieties of animal skin. We then got to working on our  projects that we chose; Yusuf was incredibly patient and helpful and most of all generous with his input and help as we progressed. I thoroughly enjoyed the workshop and can’t wait to learn more! If you’re looking to learn anything leather, I can’t recommend this enough. And please please support independent artists like Yusuf!  

Josie

I really enjoyed the session, the knowledge that Yusuf has on his craft is exceptional and the session was a great way to learn and practice the art of leatherworks. His products are a real inspiration to anyone looking to get into leatherworks. Thank you so much! I will definitely be going to another session.

M Al Darwish

I thoroughly enjoyed the masterclass taught by Yusuf: he explained the history of leather making and how it revolves throughout the years. The knowledge and expertise he possesses are tremendous and I cannot recommend his workshop enough. Moreover, he is very kind and patient and will always reassure you as you embark on making your first masterpiece. I ended up making a beautiful leather tray that we are using to keep keys and coins. It looks really beautiful and has added a great touch of character and sophistication to our home.  

Jacob Corbett

It was an amazing class where I got to take home something special. The class is catered for everyone and you were not rushed to complete the tasks. It was the perfect mixture of learning about the leather industry and learning how to create something out of the leather.

Would highly recommend!

Kim 

Great course. Had a lovely time. Highly recommend this course to anyone interested in making small leather items. I came home with a leather valet tray and a leather bracelet.  Wonderful.  

Claire 

Fantastic class, Yusuf is an amazing craftsman and teacher. His class was really informative and insightful. It was great to come away with a beautiful leather purse knowing I'd made it myself. The studio is lovely and bright and Yusuf is a great host providing tea and cake to keep you crafting.

Zach King

Zach loved this workshop and was really proud of the things he created and the skills he learnt - he's been showing everyone! Yussico was really knowledgeable, patient and a great teacher. Thank you, would recommend

Carlos López 

This is an excellent course and Yusuf is a fantastic teacher. We had a great time learning about leather and how to work with it. The items we made are beautiful. I highly recommend this as a great way to spend time just learning and enjoying a new skill, or as a gift. 

Nicola Muirhead

This was a fantastically inspiring and enjoyable day, we had a great time and learned a lot, Yussef is a great teacher and we came away with some beautiful items we could really feel proud of. I highly recommend this course. Thank you! 

Alex Bray

A superb workshop. Yusuf is super cool and he made the session a lot of fun. We came away with some brilliant leather items - I highly recommend this!

Wilma Shi

We had a great time at this leatherworking class! It is a very good introduction to leatherworking for beginners. Yusuf is an excellent teacher and was very thorough and patient, guiding us through each step . We’ve already started using the items that we made at the class, and will definitely want to go back for some more!

kate losowsky

Great class, learnt a lot about leather, working with leather  tools and techniques.  Made a gorgeous purse, thanks to the skill of the tutor. Highly recommended if you want to know more about what you're doing and why and to make some lovely goods too.

Learn fine leather working with master craftsman Yusuf Osman. Choose from over five pieces - craft a leather purse, bracelet, cuff, keyring or tray.  