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One target group that has been largely ignored in all this are children. For some years, we have been aware of courses for children to work with leather in Japan and now we are learning of others in the U.S., Australia and Europe, although they are not common. One person, Muhammad Junaid Vohra, the Creative Head of Essential Elements, who has been thinking about this for some years in Pakistan, took his ideas and project work to the recent APLF show in Dubai.
He has created “a specially designed DIY box for children with an aim to make real leather a playful material. With animal mascots illustrations, who talk about real sustainability, the kit lets children discover the world with an eye for leather and unleashes their creative ability to create”.
This is where cooperation and the commercial can meet uncomfortably. We know that, through the pandemic, many people around the world have turned to making leather goods while isolated at home, and that online and real courses are doing well. Even before the pandemic, we saw workshops at ACLE Shanghai where start-up companies were already overcrowded.
Getting knowledge and enthusiasm for leather to younger generations is an important target whether it be at the level of career consideration or infants working with pieces and understanding their origins and fun to use. We need many creative and entrepreneurial minds like Junaid Vohra working in these vital areas and even greater support for and cooperation among our top organisations to find ways to support and encourage these activities. It is truly time to expand the reach of the wonderful narrative of leather.
Your activities would gain from being widely known. Essential Elements is a frontrunner excelling in the circular economy!
And your products are beautiful!
I find your idea of involving educational institutions for putting the brains of young people at the service of recycling very commendable; everybody wins with your initiative: the youngsters developing their design skills in exploiting materials with difficult shapes, the environment as residues are used rather than disposed of, the economy because of the creation of wealth and jobs, consumers because they will be able to buy beautiful and sustainable products. So, congratulations!
"A prophet is never recognized at home" said once a holy man, and I regret that your good work is not supported in Pakistan. Maybe by producing something cheap that could be used by children at school or a funny toy, minds will change. The home market is always very important and should not be neglected, but you know that better than anyone.
I am very keen to support you.
It was an extraordinary pleasure to meet Muhammad, aka The Leather Dude! His passion for leather was evident for all to see and our industry is well served by his presence.
I embrace all your ideas about the engagement of Children by offering hands on approach to experiencing leather in early days of life. It was great to meet you and your dad, he has every right to be very proud of his son, you represent exactly what our industry needs and our goal is to continue to look for likeminded people who want to make a difference.
#educatingchildren #sustainableleather
Delighted to meet you in Dubai and that you were able to join The Leathersellers' Company / Leather UK reception at the Dubai WTC. It is always an enjoyable event and the social highlight of the APLF expo!
Your interest and enthusiasm for Leather Naturally is encouraging and I understand you are communicating with Egbert and others which is great. Keep it going ! I was interested to read your comments about Metcha. The future of Metcha is under discussion as it is a huge financial undertaking which requires funding. I am a great believer in the 'drip, drip' approach where we keep publishing consistent, positive messages by way of education. I also think working with schools colleges and universities has a long lasting impact and there is ongoing work to develop this. Your approach is very much the right one and I hope you can continue to work with Leather Naturally.
I think you're fresh approach to 'educating about leather' is inspiring and admirable. I wish you well with your initiatives.
It was a pleasure to see you. Keep on challenging children to learn about real sustainable materials.
The Leather Dude congratulations to your achievement. Your efforts are very honorable for the leather industry and for the people and the environment.
You are doing great work to promote leather and more people need to hear about it.
I must applaud the efforts of The Leather Dude for reviving the leather industry by reintroducing leather with all its senses to the general consumers who were at the brink of losing even how to recognise real leather. I must acknowledge his innovative amd catchy approach to introduce leather to the children who are the next generation to lead the industry.
In this age when people are attacked by false marketing and unethical labelling, I must reinterate the need to establish a formal legal definition of the word leather so that it cannot be misused by the so called plastic industry by labelling their PU products as leather. I am a leather enthusiast and a craftsman by hobby and it is heartbreaking to see plastic products that are adding to the waste dumps being labelled as leather.
Real leather is unique in its smell, touch and has a lot of economic value for the consumer and the industry, it is environmental friendly and in dire need for attention by the authorities.
#MakeLeatherGreatAgain
Leather Dude you made a remarkable progress in your project. I remember first time I met you in Dubai.
Congratulations for the great work.
Dude you are unbelievable! Fantastic!
This is such a nice initiative.
You're taking ordinary leather to the next level thing. Keep up the good work Bhai.
Thank you for collaborating with us, the students our teacher and us the Arthouse team learned so much from these classes, thank you to you and your entire team for all the love, time & effort spent at Art House.
It was great to have the opportunity to the leather experience, a very promising material, very interesting one, which might certainly become part of the set of materials we propose for Emilia Reggio approach.
England School Teacher
Really enjoyed working with leather, made me think of using more of natural materials in the classrooms!
As a family, we love creating with LEGO, K'NEX, fabric, and wooden DIY kits, but this was our first experience exploring leather as a material. The instructions were very easy to follow, making it an excellent hands-on activity packed with stickers. The Masjid Aqsa model also gave us the chance to discuss ongoing atrocities in Palestine. We also reflected on the first Qibla, learning when the dome of the rock was built whilst exploring Leather as a material.
We thoroughly enjoyed creating the model and used the stamp to decorate cards! We highly recommend this kit to learners of all ages!
Junaid is doing a remarkable effort to promote leather and create awareness in a very very important segment of our society, Our younger generation who is hardly familiar with leather. The Leather Dude is already working on an international scale and has also been closely working with UNIDO to promote leather.
The task which Mr. Junaid has taken is highly commendable and i would sincerely request our esteemed association that The Leather Dude must be given proper recognition and association must come forward and fully support him in this cause, as the fruits of his efforts will surely come in the near future and will eventually help our industry to prosper.
We first met The Leather Dude at a Children's Literature Festival, where our school kids handcrafted small leather keychains. The experience was so engaging and enjoyable that we later invited them to our school for a workshop, where students learned to make wallets and coin purses. We absolutely love how this unique company is reaching out to schools across Pakistan, giving students a hands-on experience in leather crafting. Not only does it help develop their dexterity but it also sparks their interest in leather work and crafts—all while having fun. Leather Dude is truly one of a kind 😀
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