PENDLETON, Ore.-Pendleton may be Round-Up City, but this weekend it’s the leather crafter’s capital of the Northwest as the Pendleton Leather Show comes to town October 31 and November 1.
The Northwest’s only tradeshow for leather workers, the Pendleton Leather Show provides an opportunity to connect with and learn from industry professionals, independent artisans, and garage tinkerers.
Vendors will be onsite with leatherworking tools, materials and supplies, and visitors will have the opportunity to attend classes taught by leatherworking professionals or participate in leatherworking competitions.
“The Pendleton Leather Show is a great opportunity for hands-on workshopping from lots of vendors,” said Joe Meling, owner of 23+ a leather goods shop at 1400 SW Court Avenue, across the street from the Pendleton Round-Up grounds. “There’s such a sense of satisfaction when you create something with your hands, we come alive when we get to be creative.”
Meling and his wife opened the shop in 2013 after moving to Pendleton after his rodeo career, and he has become well-known throughout the leatherworking community for his belts and goods, and the instructional videos he creates to help other leatherworkers.
Originally from Southwest Washington, Meling started riding bulls at age 12, and was a rodeo athlete in high school and college at Blue Mountain Community College and UNLV.
Meling earned his pro rodeo card in 2003 and focused solely on bull riding. He had his best year in 2007, finishing the year ranked 16th in the world and just missing the National Finals Rodeo.
It has been said that necessity is the mother of invention, and Meling’s leatherwork as a rodeo athlete led directly to his leather business.
“When I was competing in rodeo, I wanted nice things, primarily belts and chaps and couldn’t afford them, so I started making them,” said Meling. “It grew from there by word-of-mouth and by the time I was done with rodeo, I had a business.”
23+ primarily offers premium, custom-made belts, but it has other leather goods and a hat bar, where customers can work with a stylist to create a custom cowboy hat.
Meling is also focused on giving back to the leatherworking community at his shop in Pendleton or online.
“Education and supplies are a big part of what I do now,” said Meling. “Helping others tool leather is just an extension of always trying to improve and growing the resources for those interested in working in leather.”
Meling carries the patterns, tools and supplies necessary for leatherworking in his shop, and some of his online YouTube tutorials have been viewed hundreds of thousands of times.
“I try to keep it simple, with clear, easy-to-follow directions,” said Meling of his tutorials.
This year, the inaugural Leather Life Convention will run in conjunction with the Pendleton Leather Show with several classes, workshops, and social events for leatherworkers of all levels.
“Leather Life is being held in addition to the Pendleton Leather Show, not in competition with it,” said Meling. “This brings convention style to the industry, with an emphasis on the social aspect with speakers and workshops from industry professionals and nightly events.”
Tickets for the Leather Life Convention are available online until midnight on Oct. 30.
A free event that is open to the public is set for 6 p.m. at 23+ on Oct. 31 and will include a live leather working competition, trivia contest, prizes, and a food truck onsite.
“People are kind of stuck, and they don’t think they’re creative, until an opportunity arises and they realize they are,” said Meling, concerning anyone interested in taking up leatherworking. “Just start, get decent tools and quality leather, and see what you can do.”
The Pendleton Leather Show runs from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. on October 31 and November 1 at the Pendleton Convention Center located at 1601 Westgate. Admission is free.
