Custom and Bespoke
Leather Gear
Finest Custom Leather
Hunks of Metal is proud to partner with Tacitus Leather as our exclusive leather artist to showcase the sculptural hardware that we produce for the leather community. Tacitus has been developing his skills in leather crafting for over 30 years and brings a wealth of knowledge and a keen eye for detail to every piece he creates. In addition to creating one of kind pieces that highlight our metal work, Tacitus provides bespoke services for those clients who want truly one-of-a-kind gear that is crafted to fit their personal needs and style.
The Bespoke Process
For those interested in our bespoke and custom leather creations, here are the steps we take to work with our clients in creating the leather gear that truly embodies their style and identity in the leather community. When wearing a Tacitus Leather harness, our clients enjoy the luxury of hand selected leather, unique hardware, and the attention to detail that can only come from personalized, handcrafted work.
Consultation
The bespoke process begins with an in-person consultation. Our clients first meet with Josh of Hunks of Metal to discuss what sculptural hardware they envision for their leather gear. This may be a matter of selecting from our current catalog or commissioning an all new design for Josh to create. After the Hunks of Metal hardware is selected, the client then meets with Tacitus to discuss all the details of the leather gear they are wanting. In addition to getting the exact measurements for each client, Tacitus walks the client through the selection of each detail that goes into his leather craft. This includes leather colors and combinations, types of leather (for the best experience when wearing their gear), thread color, metal type and style for hardware, and more.
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Leather Crafting
Once the client has decided on the exact style of leather gear they want, the production process begins. Throughout this stage, the client is still a part of the process and providing feedback to be sure that the hardware and leather gear are exactly what they are looking for. If the client has chosen to commission a new piece of Hunks of Metal hardware, then Josh will reach out to our client during the design phase to be sure that what he is creating suits the client's vision. In the leather crafting stages, Tacitus will touch base and share pictures of samples including leather color combinations and thread options so that our clients can see their selected choices in real time and make adjustments as needed.
Final Fitting
The final stage of the bespoke process comes together when the custom hardware is in hand and the leather has been stitched, rivetted, and buckled together. To ensure that each piece of leather gear fits a client perfectly, there is a final fitting wherein the client tries on the leather gear and Tacitus makes final marks for leather trimming, grommets, and buckles. The reason we insist on this extra step is because no matter how accurate measurements might be, once leather gear is on the body, it can sit and feel different, changing from one type of leather to another. Once the final fitting is complete, Tacitus will finish the leather crafting and the new bespoke leather gear showcasing the Hunks of Metal hardware is delivered to the client to wear and enjoy for years to come.
