Today we’d like to introduce you to Thomas Hall.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
After high school, I did not have a clear picture for where I wanted my career to go. I attended the University of North Texas and graduated Summa Cum Laude with a degree in creative writing because I had always loved reading and found myself creating narratives constantly. After this, I began teaching English all around North Texas. Over seven years, I taught in Irving, Gunter, and finally, Frisco. I had the pleasure of teaching grades 7-12 and even a little bit of 5th grade; during this time I earned a Master of Education Leadership degree from my alma mater. Through all the trials and challenges, I saw teaching as the way forward for me into the far-distant future, and I loved it dearly.
I started working with leather in 2019 because it seemed like an incredible way to combine my love of design, photography, teaching, and writing. What began as a stumbling, halting hobby very soon led to hours upon hours of videos, blog posts, research, and practice. I had no idea leather craft would become such a passion, but I did know that I took great offense at the lackluster quality of personal leather goods–they were more plastic and paint than leather. I have always enjoyed learning new skills, but never had I stuck with one for so long as leathercraft. I took this as a sign and started my small business, T.C. Hall Leather. Now, I make custom Italian leather wallets watch straps, belts, bags, and much more out of my home workshop.
Truth and transparency are extremely important to me, which is why I source my materials from only the best tanneries and suppliers. When you purchase a product that I make, you are supporting not only me but other artisans who care deeply about what they put into the world. I take pride in slow, reliable crafting and take pride in passing along pieces of heirloom quality. I sew most of my products by hand using the traditional saddle stitch technique and offer a huge variety of customization for my designs.
Although I once saw myself teaching high school English until retirement, about six months ago my mental and physical health declined rapidly, and I realized that a major change would be necessary. I have always dealt with some degree of anxiety and depression, but T.C. Hall Leather has allowed me to engineer a lifestyle centered around positivity and healthy habits. I now work full-time for my growing brand, which allows me to spend so much quality time with my wonderful wife of five years, Courtney, and our dog, Belle. I am beyond thankful for my family and community for their support in this wild endeavor; here’s to many more unexpected journeys.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
One of the biggest challenges in starting T.C. Hall Leather has been mastering the details of business ownership. I have never worked for myself, and while I love every minute spent in the workshop creating, collaborating with customers, and sketching new designs, the everyday nuts, and bolts of documenting, filing, and monitoring are still pretty difficult for me! I know that it will get easier in the future, but I don’t think I will ever get the same thrill out of reading about tax liability that I get when bringing ideas to life.
I have also had to learn how to scale rapidly. It became obvious within the first few months of taking my business full-time that there just aren’t enough hours in the day to do everything by hand. One of my biggest goals for 2023 is to speed up production with some specialized machinery–that way, I can work with even more awesome customers!
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar, what can you tell them about what you do?
In the world of leather craft, mass production is the name of the game. Wallets may be churned out by the dozen from mystery leather that has been sanded, painted, and processed to all look the same. I take a different approach: the majority of my leather is vegetable-tanned in Tuscany, which guarantees excellent patina, character, and some incredible provenance. I like to know the type of leather, the specific color, and the tannery where it was made, and much like coffee or wine, my customers get to discover their own favorites as well! I buy small batches of unique and limited-edition leather from a handful of Italian tanneries to play with, which means that many of my clients’ designs are one-of-a-kind!
Another area that sets me apart is that most of my goods are made to order. I may have a small selection of wallets and keychains on-hand as samples or for local vendor markets, but the real magic is working with folks to choose their layout, leather, thread, and customization like initials or laser engraving. For belts and watch straps, I take measurements to ensure a perfect fit and offer special orders for hardware like buckles. These steps can result in a longer wait time than big box stores, but I believe it’s worth it.
Alright, so to wrap up, is there anything else you’d like to share with us?
While I do not yet have a storefront, I participate in various pop-ups across DFW! I have participated in the Boho Market, Frisco Fresh Market, and Celina Friday Night Market, among others. Spring is shaping up to be pretty busy for events, so keep an eye on our Instagram for where we’ll be. Of course, we’re always open online!
Pricing:
- Keychains $12-45
- Cardholders $55-150+
- Belts $98+
- Watch straps $99+
- Tote bags $245+
Contact Info:
- Website: www.tchleather.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tc_hall_leather/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGm3B65iIi7U90Fw7bIA9MA
