About me

Built for the journey. Rooted in adventure.

Smithco is more than a brand. It’s how I found my way back—through craft, through perseverance, and through creating pieces that hold space for the bold, the quiet, the curious.

It all started with a pair of leather ankle-strap sandals—the first shoes I ever bought for myself as a teenager. I still remember the way they felt: the soft grain, the way they grounded me. I absolutely loved them; that was the spark…

Later, it was time in the saddle that deepened it. The smell of leather—sun-warmed bridles, reins, well-worn boots—still takes me back. Most of my gear was hand-me-downs that needed mending. My grandfather, a Scottish-born former British mounted patrolman in Southern Africa, had taken up leatherwork in retirement. He’d quietly repair what he could, and even remade a set of brushing boots for me.  I was inspired to know how to do that.

Years later, I inherited his tools. For a long time, they sat in the garage, waiting—like the part of me that had always wanted to create. And eventually, at exactly the right time, that quiet desire became a spark. Then a fire.

So I began.

Armed with old tools, childhood sewing skills, a supportive husband, and a stubborn streak, I started stitching at the kitchen counter. I stitched. Unpicked. Tried again.

That was 2019. When lockdown came, I dove deeper into the work. Friends started asking for bags. And somewhere between the quiet of those months and the chaos of my own life, I found something I hadn’t even known I’d lost.

By 2022, I walked away from spreadsheets and structure and stepped into something made from my hands, my history, and my heart.

Smithco Leather was born, not just from a love of making, but from a need to create things that matter -
bags that feel like they’ve already lived a little, that excite you when you find them and that make you feel seen.

Because practical can be stylish. Bold doesn’t have to be loud. And adventure? It starts in the everyday.

Most Smithco pieces are handcrafted by me, here in Cape Town—made with grit, care, and quiet confidence. It’s given me the courage to be fully myself, and my hope is that these bags help you carry what matters—and keep you grounded as you go.

Because some things—like stories, scars, and good leather—only get better with time.

Lara
Founder, Leathersmith, Keeper of the Croft

 

Cyrus, my workshop buddy.