About
Whilst studying tailoring and learning the traditional methods of working with leather, I quickly became captivated with leather craftsmanship and the versatility and longevity of leather as a material. This became the start of the Kingsley Walters brand, founded in 2015.
What initially began as a hobby – making small items for myself and friends – soon turned into a business, as I began to receive bespoke orders by word of mouth. Making further investment in traditional saddlery tools, I have been able to create small capsule collections, as well as lead workshops on leather craftsmanship.
As a craftsman, I make practical and durable pieces by hand, utilising traditional methods: each product is hand cut and stitched with my own beeswax coated thread. I also use locally sourced material – purchased here in London, and traceable to source.
The Kingsley Walters kite logo is a direct reference to the simple things I miss most about my early life in Jamaica. During school holidays, we would venture into the mango fields, play football against other kids, or make homemade kites and fly them in playful kite wars. Sometimes, we would put all our money together, so the winning team in the kite wars would have made enough to go to the shop and buy drinks and bread of some sort. When I think back to those summer days, the simple things that brought me such joy, I can’t help but smile. Jamaica contributes massively to who I am, and when creating a logo for my brand, I therefore thought back to those early years in Kingston. That’s where it all started – making kites from scratch, by hand.
