Friend: Henry Tomkins Leather
Products: Leather Briefcases and Bags
Based: Nadderwater
Distance from TBM & Friends: 2 miles
THE MAKER
For more than twenty years, Henry Tomkins has been personally hand crafting his exclusive range of leather bags. He has an open approach to design, leading to innovative and original results. Being very keen on the user-friendly aspect of design, he believes that, if a bag ‘works’ then it usually looks good too. Henry builds his bags to last a lifetime and his comprehensive guarantee includes a repair service even as a result of normal wear and tear. He made it: he can fix it.
In the market place, Henry maintains that reputation is everything and believes it is better for a sale to fall through than for an inappropriate sale to happen.
Most of his designs lend themselves to incorporating personal preferences and there is an extensive custom service. If you have any queries, or wish discuss a particular design, you are welcome to phone Henry at his Exeter workshop (+44 (0)1392 496620) or email him: henry@htleather.co.uk.
THE MATERIALS
Henry uses only full grain leather and nubuck and chooses leather with a natural look and feel that improves with age, avoiding leather that has so much protective finish that it looks like plastic. Brown and black leathers are always in stock but sometimes other colours are also available.
If you wish to feel the quality and see the actual shade of the leather, you can request swatches by sending a stamped addressed envelope to him, do get in touch: +44 (0)1392 496620 or email: henry@htleather.co.uk
The fittings are of solid brass which is first copper-plated and then given a gun-metal grey finish.
CARE OF YOUR BAG
The leather may need feeding from time to time. Henry recommends the use of a neutral shoe cream (e.g. Kiwi) sparingly applied with a shoe brush. The leather will tell you when this is necessary.
Surface marking that appears on some leathers from daily use is often very superficial and is a result of the displacement of the oils in the leather. This can be remedied in the same way but be very sparing with the shoe cream and use brisk strokes with the brush. “Or,” he says, “you could try rubbing the mark with the ball of your thumb.” Such is the – natural – nature of his leather.
GUARANTEE
Workmanship and materials are unconditionally guaranteed for five years from date of dispatch. Should a problem arise, Henry will solve it either by repair, replacement or refund, whichever is appropriate. In addition you have ten days from the date of receipt to change your mind about your purchase. Simply return the goods (unused) and you will be refunded in full (except postage).
Purchases made for gifts can be exchanged (unused) if the recipient is not entirely happy with your choice. Furthermore, the ecologist in Henry demands that he attends to whatever refurbishing might be necessary over the years. There is rarely a charge for this service.
Henry Tomkins Leather at TBM & Friends is brought to you by The Belt Makers