LEATHER is a classic essential in every wardrobe, and one Jamaican business is redefining how leather products are crafted and valued. My Old Man Leather Craft, founded in 2017, emerged from a desire to create extra income opportunities for its founder, Zeelah Davis, and his wife, Marvine Davis. What began as a sleeping talent quickly evolved into a small business, driven by the passion to create high-quality, lasting leather goods.

“I was pondering over it for a while, and then I stumbled upon this little wallet on the Internet and I just came to that wow [moment when I told myself] I could do this — and it wouldn’t be that hard. So, I ordered a few pieces of leather from Amazon and got it, you know, started to figure out how to get it to actually look like what was on the Internet,” said Zeelah Davis, founder and CEO of My Old Man Leather Craft, in an interview with the Jamaica Observer.

The first wallet Zeelah made was a success. He showed it to a co-worker who loved it, and even requested one for himself. That marked Zeelah’s first sale, sparking a steady flow of future sales. He officially launched the business under the name My Old Man Leather Craft, a tribute to his father who was his mentor in leather crafting.

“Sometime in Zeelah’s childhood his dad became very dissatisfied with the flimsy tool bags that he had to use, and in his dissatisfaction his dad bought a piece of leather and he himself delved into the crafting of the leather. And, in doing so, he meticulously fashioned rugged custom bags for himself and for his sons, and he became the mentor for Zeelah,” Marvine Davis, Zeelah’s wife and co-founder of My Old Man Leather Craft, shared during the interview.

Despite Zeelah having the skills, it wasn’t until he saw the opportunity online that he truly began capitalising on his craft. From wallets he expanded into belts and, over time, began making other leather products.

“When our son started school, we had to go through so many imitation leather belts that it became very frustrating. Every three months we would be purchasing a new belt for him. And being the person that Zeelah is, he started now with a piece of leather to fashion a belt in 2016 for our son,” Marvine added.

This challenge sparked a new passion for Zeelah, driving him to explore other leather products, which improved with every piece he created. As the business grew, so did its product offerings, with leather totes, duffle bags, backpacks, clothing, male slippers, and, most recently, leather wall décor. Yet, it hasn’t been without its challenges. A key hurdle for My Old Man Leather Craft was pricing. Zeelah struggled with how to price his products, knowing they were built to last. The challenge was convincing customers to prioritise value over price. Zeelah explained to Sunday Finance that many preferred cheaper, short-term options, despite the fact that Zeelah’s leather products would offer greater longevity. It was difficult to communicate that they weren’t just buying a product based on price, but on lasting value.

“Once you buy a My Old Man Leather Craft belt, it might be enough to never need another,” said Zeelah.

The business focuses heavily on pop-up shops and artisans’ shows as part of its marketing strategy, gathering customer feedback and slowly introducing each product. Recently, the couple took a risk by opening a store at Artisan Village in Trelawny, a move that introduced their products to a broader audience. Despite the growth, Zeelah remains the sole manufacturer of the products. However, the next step is to hire additional staff to help manage increasing demand and to scale up operations.

“The challenges for the new year are going to be finding persons that actually have the skills required,” Zeelah said with a small chuckle, though he remains optimistic about the future.

While the business continues to operate out of Zeelah and Marvine’s home, their goal is to make My Old Man Leather Craft a household name in Jamaica and expand internationally. They aspire to be recognised as an authentic Jamaican brand, showcasing the craftsmanship and resilience their products represent.