Our Craft

Everything we make at Sahi New York starts with a single question: what would this look like if we refused to cut corners?

The answer is always the same. Full-grain leather. Traditional construction. Made by hand in New York.

The Leather

We source exclusively from Wickett and Craig — one of the last remaining traditional vegetable tanneries in the United States, operating out of Pennsylvania since 1867. Their leather is tanned using natural plant-based tannins rather than the chromium salts used in most commercial leather production. It takes weeks instead of hours. The result is leather that is denser, firmer, and far more durable than anything produced by faster methods.

We use only full-grain leather — the outermost layer of the hide, with the natural grain surface intact. Nothing is sanded, buffed, or corrected. Every mark the animal carried becomes part of the leather's character. Every fold, every crease, every variation in grain is a feature. This is the only grade of leather that develops a true patina.

The Construction

Every piece is saddle-stitched by hand using the two-needle technique — the same method used by saddlers and harness makers for centuries. Two needles, one thread, each stitch locked individually. If a stitch breaks, the others hold. Machine stitching cannot do this.

We use German waxed thread throughout — stronger than most alternatives, resistant to moisture and abrasion, and selected to complement the leather rather than fight it.

Edges are hand-burnished using a wooden slicker and water, then finished to a smooth, semi-glossy surface that only improves with handling. Hardware is solid brass or stainless steel — no plating, no zinc alloy, nothing that will corrode or pit after a year of daily use.

The Patina

Full-grain vegetable-tanned leather does something no other material does: it records your life. The oils from your hands, the friction of daily carry, the exposure to light — all of it works into the leather over months and years, deepening the colour and developing a patina that is entirely personal. No two pieces age the same way.

This is why we choose Natural and Natural Tooling leathers for customers who want to watch this process happen most dramatically. It is also why we stand behind every piece we make.

Made in New York

Every piece in our collection is cut, stitched, burnished, and finished in New York. We keep our production small so that every piece receives the attention it deserves. We do not outsource. We do not use leather substitutes. We do not make anything we would not carry ourselves.

If you have a question about how something is made, or want to discuss a custom piece, reach out at sahinewyork@gmail.com.