Intention in Every Detail
Atelier Penny James is the work of Mackenzie Dunham, an independent craftsman producing fine leather goods. Each commission is cut, saddle-stitched, and finished by 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 by 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.
Choose the leather, the thread, the colour. Each commission is built by hand to your specification.
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.
