About TLLC

TLLC (The Leading Leather Company) is run by Karen Beeny, with the help of her partner, Jonathan Shepherd, their family & the family's three legged Jack Russell, Tali.

Karen's love of ponies, horses, dogs & all things tack and leather started the journey to her becoming a Saddler & Leatherworker. Karen began her training in 1987 under a Master Saddler, whose moto was 'quality NOT quantity'. She began learning the traditional skills of a Saddler & Harness maker (hand cutting, handcrafting & hand stitching - using only the best quality leather & fittings. Karen obtained a City & Guilds/Society of Master Saddlers qualification in Bridle making and subsequently 'Saddle Sense Working Saddlers' was established in 1994 in the North East of England, predominantly working on bridle, saddle & harness repairs and making bespoke bridles for small show ponies to heavy horses. Ten years later in 2004 there was a name change to 'The Leading Leather Company' to better reflect the progression in to quality dog collars & leads & belts (alongside the equine side of the business) as TLLC began exhibiting at Darlington Dog Show, Discover Dogs at Earls Court in London and Crufts at the NEC in Birmingham. 

TLLC is now based in Falmouth, Cornwall following the family's decision to relocate in 2016.​

Karen has a wide range of experience in leatherwork from bespoke dog collars, leads & harnesses, belts & bridles/bridle parts to repairs & replacement parts of saddles, horse harness & tack, dog collars, leads & harness; restoration or replacement of leather straps for vintage car bonnets, vintage fire engines, picnic baskets, handbags, cartridge bags & shooting accessories to name but a few.

When it comes to repairs & restorations, they are sympathetically carried out and great deal of care is taken to match the leather as closest as possible to the original colour and thickness .

Karen also learnt the art of leather carving, stamping and tooling on to natural tooling leather, this enables her to produce some personalised leather gifts. 

Karen is passionate about leather & working with leather and this shows in her enthusiasm and the quality of her work. Leather is such a sustainable product which has been used for many thousands of years, it is strong and hardwearing and with the correct care will last a lifetime and beyond.

Leather, materials, fittings and tools are sourced from within the UK wherever possible.

Karen would love to hear from you with your enquiries and wishes. 

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