Heritage in Every Stitch

For well over 300 years, leatherwork has been the primary craft of the Regar Samaj community of Rajasthan, India. Traditionally renowned for their expertise in tanning hides and crafting saddles, harnesses, and cavalry armor, the Regars were once indispensable to royal and military stables. Their craftsmanship was unmatched, and their tools humble yet precise, told stories of a deep-rooted legacy.

Today, the world has changed and so has its needs. But the skills of these artisans remain timeless.

At Studio Caleidoscope, we have had the privilege of working closely with the Regar community. Through meaningful collaboration and constant innovation, we’ve reimagined their traditional techniques for modern, handcrafted accessories: artisanal wallets and bags made using upcycled pure leather in remote villages across India.

This is leather art in its truest form, over three centuries old, untouched by automation. Every stage, from pattern making to the final finish, is performed entirely by hand using age-old tools: simple punches, hammers, and awls. With remarkable precision, artisans carve, stitch, and assemble, creating textures and motifs that machines cannot replicate.

Women from artisan households also contribute significantly, not only in supporting the process but in actively stitching the leather using leather strips, not thread. This unique method, passed down through generations, adds strength and unmatched beauty to every piece.

All it takes is a few tools, some leather, and boundless imagination to breathe life into a tradition, one that honors the past while shaping the future of sustainable, handcrafted design.