PENDLETON, Ore.-Leatherworkers and crafters from around the region filled the Pendleton Convention Center over the weekend for the annual Pendleton Leather Show.
“The goal of the Pendleton Leather Show is to help the leatherworking community connect,” said Misty Shaw, with Illume Events, which puts on the show. “Our biggest motivations are connection and learning.”
Upwards of two thousand people were expected to attend the two-day show that featured leather, of course, as well as the tools, dyes and everything else needed to work with the medium.
Custom knives and silver works were also available, and attendees had the opportunity to meet with representatives from different distributors and companies and could even participate in on-site leatherworking classes.
“It’s an opportunity to meet professionals face-to-face, they’re all approachable and willing to help, and any vendor will offer their perspective,” said John Cook, a leatherworker from Tri-Cities, who was looking for some new tools at the show. “There’s a real community vibe here, it’s great to have something like this right in our backyard in the Northwest.”
Vendors from 25-30 states, from Florida and New York to California, attended the show, as did suppliers from Canada.
Hermann Oak Leather out of St. Louis, Missouri, was one vendor at the show. Founded in 1881, the leather supply company has become an industry standard, known for its quality.
“Pendleton’s great, the show has good classes, it’s well organized, and it’s an opportunity to educate beginners, artisans and crafters about leather,” said Adam Love, Sales Director for Hermann Oak Leather. “We came to support the Pendleton Leather Show, and we’re happy to be here.”
While Hermann Oak wasn’t at the Pendleton show to sell, it did supply all the leather for the competitions at the show.
Four competitions for saddles, chaps, belts and handbags, in both open and novice divisions were held in conjunction with the show. Members of the public voted for their favorite entries in the Roy Raley Room on the Pendleton Round-Up grounds.
Competitions were also judged by a panel of three professionals, renowned in leathercrafting, with winners receiving prize packages that included cash, silver buckles and more from event sponsors, worth between $500 and $5,000, according to Shaw.
Learn with Illume, which offers a series of instructional video classes covering virtually any project a leatherworker could want to undertake, from saddles and chaps to laptop bags, was at the leather show highlighting its classes.
“Every class is focused on helping people become better leather workers,” said Carter Helquist, an Illume representative.
Whether attending an in-person class, paying for online classes, or watching tutorials on YouTube, most professionals, vendors and novices in attendance at the Pendleton Leather Show agreed that the best thing for those interested in leatherworking to do is just get started.
“I enjoy the creative aspect of it, making something with your hands,” said Cook, who took up leatherworking about a year ago. “Whether you keep it for yourself or give it away, there’s satisfaction in having a finished product at the end.”
