How can we help?

Hands of Tym is an independent UK leathercraft studio, shop and academy. We make leather goods in our Oxfordshire workshop, sell specialist leathercraft tools and supplies, prepare DIY kits, teach practical courses and support bespoke and business projects.

Hands of Tym is based in Banbury, Oxfordshire, on the edge of the Cotswolds. Workshop visits and face-to-face teaching are by arrangement rather than as a walk-in retail shop.

Georgie Tym is the founder, designer, leathersmith and teacher behind Hands of Tym. Her experience includes studying and lecturing at London College of Fashion, designing at Alfred Dunhill and development work connected with brands including Nike, Jaguar, M&S, Cherchbi and Hunter.

You can shop handmade bags and accessories, leathercraft tools and materials, and DIY bag-making kits. You can also book face-to-face or online tuition, request personalisation or bespoke work, arrange repairs, or discuss design, sampling and corporate projects.

Georgie founded Hands of Tym in 2016 to share the magic of making. In 2026, the business is celebrating ten years of designing, making and teaching leathercraft.

Hands of Tym’s own leather bags, purses, wallets, belts, keyrings, stationery and small accessories are individually made or finished in the Oxfordshire workshop. The separate leathercraft tools and supplies range is selected from specialist manufacturers and is not made by Hands of Tym.

No. We carefully select and sell tools and supplies made by trusted specialist manufacturers. We are clear about this distinction: Hands of Tym makes its own leather goods and DIY kits, while the tools range is sourced for makers to use in their own work.

Hands of Tym primarily uses responsibly sourced Italian vegetable-tanned leather chosen for its quality, feel and ability to age beautifully. Materials vary by product, so the individual product page is the best place to confirm the exact leather, lining and hardware used.

Leather is a natural material. Grain, texture and colour can vary slightly from one hide to another, and these variations are part of the character of a genuine leather product rather than faults. You can ask for colour swatches if a precise shade matters.

Yes, suitable vegan and alternative materials are available for some products and bespoke projects. Availability depends on the design and the performance required, so please contact us before ordering if you would like a non-leather option.

Many handmade goods are made to order or personalised in the workshop, while some items may already be ready to dispatch. The product page shows the current lead time and available options; tools and supplies normally follow a much shorter dispatch process.

Depending on the item, you can choose initials or characters, foil colour, leather colour, hardware finish, lining and other details. Available choices appear on the product page, and Georgie can advise if you have something less standard in mind.

The usual maximum is between 7 and 14 characters, depending on the size and shape of the product. Initials, numbers and selected symbols or emojis may be possible. Check the product page or ask before ordering if your wording is close to the limit.

Yes. A unique plate can be made and applied to a suitable Hands of Tym leather product. This service starts from £45, with the final cost depending on the artwork, plate and product. Business branding and larger batches are quoted separately.

Often, yes. Bespoke leather or colour changes start from £100 where offered, nickel hardware can often be changed to brass without an additional charge, and lining choices depend on the product. Georgie will confirm what is practical before the piece is made.

Yes, where the project is a good fit. You do not need a technical specification: describe the item, purpose, approximate size, colours and details that matter. Georgie will explain what is achievable, the likely process and the quotation before work begins.

The range serves complete beginners, hobby leatherworkers, developing makers and experienced professionals. Product descriptions explain the intended use, sizes and options, and we are happy to help you avoid buying the wrong tool for the job.

The range includes tools and materials from established manufacturers such as Wuta Leather Tools, Ivan Leathercraft, OLFA and Maun Industries, alongside other specialist products selected for practical leatherworking.

Yes. Send us the material, technique and project you are working on and we can point you towards suitable options. For more involved technical help, you can also book one-to-one practical tuition with Georgie.

Leathercraft tools are working tools rather than toys, and many have sharp edges or points. Follow the safety information on each product, keep tools away from young children and use appropriate adult supervision wherever a young person is learning leathercraft.

Use each product only for its stated leathercraft purpose and follow its label or product instructions. Avoid ingestion and eye contact, wash your hands after use, and keep compounds out of reach of children. Sensitive users should also avoid prolonged skin contact.

No. Hands of Tym DIY kits are designed for complete beginners as well as confident makers. Much of the technical preparation is done in the workshop, leaving you with a satisfying project that teaches real finishing, assembly and construction skills.

Contents vary by design, but kits typically include pre-cut and pre-punched leather, the required hardware and consumables, needle and thread where needed, a “Made by” card, written instructions and access to an instruction video. Check the product page for the exact list.

Most kits need only simple household items. Scissors and a small flat-head screwdriver are commonly useful, while specialist leatherworking tools are supplied where the design requires them. The “You will need” list on each product page is definitive.

Some kits offer a “made for you” option for a small additional charge. Choose that option after selecting the available colour and hardware choices. If it does not appear on the product you want, contact us to ask what is possible.

Yes. Each kit lists its available leather and hardware combinations. Bespoke colours or other additions may also be possible at extra cost, subject to material availability and the construction of the kit.

The programme includes practical bag and accessory workshops, bag design and pattern-cutting training, intensive multi-day courses, private tuition and live online one-to-one support. Self-paced online courses are also being developed.

Yes. Many workshops are designed specifically to take a complete beginner through the process step by step. More advanced design, pattern-cutting and one-to-one options are available for developing makers and professionals.

Face-to-face courses are taught at the Hands of Tym Academy and workshop in Banbury, Oxfordshire. The location is accessible from the M40 and Banbury railway station; practical arrival information is provided for your booking.

Hands of Tym adds new dates regularly. The course catalogue explains every course with equal prominence, while the separate schedule is the quickest place to see current dates. Individual course pages contain the booking options.

Yes. You can book live one-to-one online tuition with Georgie for a technique, project, design or business challenge. Self-paced Hands of Tym online courses are coming soon and will be announced when ready.

Courses are taught by Georgie Tym, an experienced designer-maker and London College of Fashion lecturer. You learn directly from someone who designs, patterns, samples and makes leather goods in practice.

Expect friendly, practical teaching with close guidance and plenty of hands-on making. Depending on the course, you will leave with a completed leather piece, a developed pattern or a set of new design and construction skills. The individual course page explains the exact outcome and what is included.

Hands of Tym supports product design and development, physical sampling, prototype refinement, agreed small-batch making, production consultancy, branded and white-labelled leather goods, and practical leathercraft workshops for organisations.

Yes. You can arrive with a rough idea rather than a finished technical brief. Georgie can help clarify the intended user, function, proportion, materials and construction, then define the most useful next stage.

Yes. Sampling is a core service. Georgie can develop or review a design, make a physical sample where appropriate, assess how it performs and refine it before you commit to the next stage.

Yes, for suitable designs and agreed quantities. Product complexity, materials, branding, timing and workshop capacity are reviewed before a batch is confirmed and quoted.

Yes. Hands of Tym can create branded and white-labelled accessories for corporate gifting, merchandise and events. Product, quantity, leather, colour, hardware and the branding method are agreed as part of the brief.

The usual route is an initial brief, review and scope, design and development, sampling and testing, refinement and production planning, then an agreed small batch or project handover. A project may use all six stages or only the ones it genuinely needs.

Yes. Hands of Tym currently offers free standard delivery on all UK orders. The delivery information shown at checkout and on the shipping page is the current position for your basket.

For tools and supplies, Hands of Tym aims to dispatch from Oxfordshire within two working days; UK transit is usually one to two days and international transit usually seven to ten business days. Handmade and personalised goods can require additional making time, so check the individual product page.

Yes, to many international destinations. Europe is currently £8 for orders under £150 and free from £150; other international destinations are £14 below £200 and free from £200. Hands of Tym does not currently ship to the United States because of trade tariffs and shipping constraints.

For EU orders with an intrinsic value of €150 or less, Hands of Tym calculates and collects EU VAT at checkout through the Import One-Stop Shop (IOSS) scheme. From 1 July 2026, the EU also applies a separate temporary customs duty of €3 for each distinct customs tariff category represented in a low-value parcel. A parcel containing different types of goods can therefore attract more than one €3 charge. This duty is separate from VAT and may be collected from the recipient by the carrier or local customs, depending on the destination and delivery service.

EU orders above €150 fall outside the IOSS scheme and may attract VAT or customs charges on delivery. For other destinations, local taxes and duties depend on the country and order value. These charges are set by local authorities rather than Hands of Tym.

You have 30 days after receiving an eligible item to request a return. It must be unworn or unused, with tags where applicable, in its original packaging and accompanied by proof of purchase. Product-specific exclusions and your statutory rights still apply.

Email info@handsoftym.com before sending anything back. If the return is accepted, you will receive instructions and the return address. Items sent without first requesting a return may not be accepted, and customers pay return postage for accepted non-faulty items.

Keep the item away from oils, ink and unnecessary moisture. When it is not in use, store it in its soft cloth bag in a cool, dry place. Leather will naturally change in colour and develop a patina as it is handled and used.

Yes. Hands of Tym is built around products being worth keeping and fixing. Contact the workshop with photographs and a description of the damage so Georgie can advise whether a repair is possible and provide a quotation.

Yes, subject to suitability and workshop capacity. Previous work includes bags, straps, belts, antique writing surfaces, bellows and vintage car leather. Repairs can be accepted by post, including from outside the UK, but the service currently has a long waiting list.

Hands of Tym uses carefully sourced materials, designs goods to last, offers repair and restoration, uses recyclable packaging and funds the planting of one tree through Ecologi for each website order over £50. Leather offcuts are reused wherever practical, including in smaller products, teaching and mixed scrap boxes.