Inside a cosy studio in Kuala Lumpur, the rhythmic sound of stitching and hammering fills the air. Around large wooden tables, people of different ages and backgrounds make wallets, bags, passport holders and other items.
For these hobbyists, crafting is more than just making beautiful items; it’s a form of emotional release, mindfulness and mental reset.
Siblings Ann and Alec Wong from Kelang Leather, who run the workshops, have seen firsthand how the craft helps participants slow down mentally and emotionally.
“When you’re doing saddle stitching, your brain needs to focus on the sequence,” says Ann, 45. “If your mind wanders, the stitching becomes uneven. So your mind has to stay present and clear; it’s very grounding.”
“Leather crafting is extremely structured. Every project follows a sequence: measuring, cutting, punching holes, stitching, assembling and finishing,” adds Alec, 42.
“There’s a lot of logic involved. That kind of routine helps us organise our thoughts.”
During their mother’s cancer treatment, Alec struggled with sadness and worry.
“After hospital visits, I would come home and start making bags to destress,” he recalls. “Working with my hands helped me process what I was feeling. Focusing on the crafting gave me a sense of calm and control.”
Former advertising professional Karen Hue, 52, refers to the activity as her “craft therapy”. As someone with ADHD (attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder), she discovered that leather crafting helped her stay mentally grounded.
“Every stitch requires mindfulness,” she says. “If you’re not present, your stitches will run.”
Hue started crafting alongside friends Teo Bee Tin, 58, Lotta Hoh, 71, and Kitty Liang, 68, who also picked up leather crafting for stress relief.
For Teo, the craft became an emotional outlet after years in the corporate world.
“I used to bottle up a lot of stress and anger,” says the freelance business consultant. “Leather crafting trained me to calm down and focus.”
Now, she visits the studio daily.
“This place feels like my second home,” she says. “I feel better after doing leather crafting.”
Retired teacher Hoh enjoys the craft because it keeps her mentally active and relaxed.
“It keeps me sane,” she says with a smile.
Meanwhile, retired seamstress Liang says working with her hands makes her happy.
“It helps me relax, and seeing the final result feels very satisfying. That feel-good factor is good for mental health,” she enthuses.
Alex Yap, 40, describes the hobby as a much-needed “digital detox” from his screen-heavy career as a digital consultant.
“When you’re stitching, you can go on for hours without checking your devices. I’m online all the time for work, so time away from screens is important for my mental health.”
Yap first discovered leather crafting through a workshop and soon became hooked.
“I realised there’s so much more to it – understanding leather types, textures and measurements. It relaxes me, but also mentally stimulates me.”
What began with making wallets evolved into larger projects, including crafting a leather bag for his mother’s 70th birthday.
Beyond the craft itself, Yap says the supportive community is what makes him turn up daily.
“There’s no competitiveness here, only cooperation,” he says.
“Everybody helps each other figure things out.”
Executive trainer Michelle Lum, 55, also found leather crafting to be an unexpected form of stress relief.
She first signed up for a workshop during her birthday month two years ago because she wanted to try something new.
“I realised very quickly that everything required precision. The stitching and punching holes all needed focus,” she says.
“That concentration helped me regulate my breathing and still my mind,” she adds.
Soon, Lum progressed from wallets to journals and bucket bags, often making handcrafted gifts for loved ones.
“There’’s always a finishing line with these crafting projects,” she says. “And completing something, even something small, gives you a sense of achievement.”
“It is a creative outlet which keeps me mentally refreshed because every design is different and I can personalise what I make,” she says.
Many participants also say the supportive community plays a major role in their emotional wellbeing.
“We are social beings,” says Ann. “Sometimes people just need human connection.”
The studio has even become a safe space for some participants struggling emotionally.
The ladies recall a young boy who slowly became more confident after joining the workshops following the loss of his parents.
“While initially shy, he slowly came out of his shell through crafting,” they add.
Ultimately, the crafters believe leather crafting offers something increasingly rare in today’s fast-paced digital world: the chance to slow down, focus and reconnect with oneself.
Above all, it offers that mental and emotional respite, social connection and sense of achievement.
Engaging in a soothing rhythm
Siblings Alec (left) and Ann have seen firsthand how crafting helps participants slow down mentally and emotionally.
(From left) Hue, Hoh, Liang and Teo are four friends who found camaraderie and a way to destress through leather crafting.
Ida says working on a leather bag is a form of stress relief and mental stimulation for her.
(Left to right) Hue, Hoh, Liang and Teo - four friends who found camaraderie and a way to destress - through leather crafting.
Hue hammering away her stress while leather crafting.
Lum says that leather crafting is like a mental reset for her.
