Handcrafted Fine Leather Goods
Atelier Penny James is the work of Mackenzie Dunham, an independent craftsman producing fine leather goods. Each commission is cut, saddle-stitched, and finished entirely by hand.
Atelier Penny James is the work of Mackenzie Dunham, an independent craftsman producing fine leather goods. Each commission is cut, saddle-stitched, and finished entirely by hand.
Every piece passes through a single pair of hands — from the hide to the finished edge. Nothing is delegated, nothing is rushed.
Two needles, one thread. The saddle stitch locks each pass independently — if a thread breaks, the seam holds. The technique of the great French ateliers.
Each hide is read by hand before cutting — grain, weight, tension. Only the finest section of the skin is used.
Each edge is painted, sanded, and polished across multiple passes. It is one of the last steps in a commission and one of the most telling.
We accept a limited number of bespoke commissions each season, pieces designed and built around a single client. You choose the leather, the dimensions, the details.
From supple French hides, to the rich patina found in Italian leathers, we have curated a range of different textures and finishes from the top tanneries around the world.