Day one
Our full grain leather is for people who want to put their own mark on our goods through patina and every-day use. Every product we make is truly one-of-a-kind and unlike anything you can buy in a department store.
Gets better with age.
We're a small workshop that prides itself on high-quality leather goods. We're based out of Nelson BC, Canada. We're a team of artisans local to the area. We believe in honest work and making leather goods that will last a lifetime.
Save an extra 25% with code: PATINA
Free shipping for orders over CA$125
90 Day Returns
19,000+ 5-Star Reviews
Why isn't the leather Canadian?
Folks ask us this more than they used to, and it is a fair question for a company that makes everything in Canada.
The short answer is that Canada does not tan this kind of leather anymore. In 1949 there were 70 tanneries in this country. Most had closed by the end of the century, and the handful still running work in fur, glove leather and game hides. None of them make full grain cattle leather to our spec, in our colours, at the volume we cut in a year.
So we went looking for the best tannery we could find, and it was in Milwaukee. Seidel built a bespoke range to our specification and their hides come from the United States. We are not going to pretend otherwise.
Our leather comes from Seidel Tanning Corp in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, a fourth-generation family-owned tannery and one of the larger producers of premium leather in the United States.
Here is what is Canadian. Every side is hand-selected, cut, stitched, burnished and finished by our team in Nelson, BC. The design, the warranty repairs and the workshop wages are all here. The leather is the raw material. Everything that turns it into a Popov product happens in our workshop.
It started as a hobby
I didn't set out to start a leather company. I still carry the first wallet I designed.
After art school I took a 9-5 office job, and leatherwork was a hobby on the side. I bought a starter set of tools and made myself a wallet, mostly because I always wanted one without a logo on it.
Jill, my wife and co-founder, was the one who said I should put it online. I did, people bought it, and then more people bought it. For the first couple of years the whole company was the two of us in the basement of our house in Nelson, BC, doing all of it: the cutting, the sewing, the packing and the emails.
What kept us going was something we noticed early on: most leather goods are not built to last. So we decided ours would be. That meant thick full grain leather, solid brass hardware, construction simple enough to repair, and a guarantee that covers every piece for life. It has been in place since the very first wallet.
It takes us about 1 week to make yours
Our workshop is busy crafting leather goods daily. Every order is made one at a time, never mass-produced. All items ship from our workshop within 3-7 days. You’ll be glad you got in line.
- Wallets: saddle-stitched by hand
- Saddle-stitching uses two needles and passes the thread through each hole twice, so if one stitch ever gives out the rest of the seam still holds. It's slower than machine sewing, and that's the point.
- Classic, Conway, and Women's belts: no-stitch construction
- Each is cut from a single piece of thick 9oz full-grain leather, hand-burnished along the edges, and secured at the buckle by solid-brass Chicago screws. No thread means nothing to split or unravel.
- Vanguard belts: machine-stitched edges
- The stitching is decorative and protective rather than structural: the belt itself is still a single piece of full-grain leather, and the Tiger thread along the edge keeps the burnished line crisp for years of daily wear.
Where stitching is used, we use Tiger thread imported from Julius Koch in Germany.
It's hard not to be obsessed with the unmistakable aroma of full-grain leather, a rare pleasure in a world of synthetic alternatives.
Popov Leather at a glance
Not all leather is created the same, and the word on a label rarely tells you which kind you are holding. This is the one that shows up at your door.
- Grade
- Full-grain, the top layer of the hide with the grain intact. Never sanded or buffed.
- Tannage
- Combination tanned: chrome-tanned base with a 25% vegetable re-tan.
- Stuffing
- Hot stuffed with premium greases, infusing oils and waxes into the fibre.
- Finish
- Aniline. Soluble dyes penetrate the leather and leave the grain visible.
- Belt weight
- 9oz, roughly 3.6mm.
- Hides
- Sourced domestically within North America
- Made in
- Nelson, British Columbia, Canada. Cut and assembled by hand.
A few things this leather is not
It is not vegetable tanned on its own, and we do not describe it that way. It is not top-grain, genuine or bonded leather, all of which are made by cutting away or reconstituting the part of the hide we keep. It is not a coated or corrected finish, which is why you can still see the grain and the natural markings on a finished wallet.
Because the surface is left alone, no two pieces are identical. You may see slight scars, wrinkles or insect marks that the animal picked up over its life. These are not flaws in the manufacturing.
The last belt you'll ever buy
We don't want to sell you another belt in a year. That's why we back each one with a lifetime guarantee. This isn't marketing fluff. It's how we do business.
| Belt | Now | Regular |
|---|---|---|
| Leather Belt - 1.5" | CA$109.00 | |
| Leather Belt - 1" | CA$109.00 | |
| Leather Double Prong Belt - 1.5" | CA$109.00 | |
| Women's Leather Belt - 1.5" | CA$129.00 | |
| Leather Vanguard Belt - 1.5" | CA$149.00 |
- Belts are cut from a single piece of 9 oz leather with a solid brass buckle.
- 1.5” strap width fits through standard belt loops on any pair of jeans; it's our classic strap width.
- If you don't have a belt to measure, use your favorite pair of jeans and add 2" to their waist size.
- The Chicago screws let you swap the buckle, add a hole, or shorten the strap at home.
Select your wallet
At Popov Leather, we don’t believe in branding, quality is our brand. We believe you shouldn’t be a walking ad for designer wallet brands. Our wallets are saddle-stitched by hand with waxed Tiger thread.
| Wallet | What it holds | Now | Regular |
|---|---|---|---|
| Leather Front Pocket Wallet | Ryan Popoff: "I wanted to create a simple leather wallet that could fit into my front pocket" | CA$89.00 | |
| Leather 5 Card Wallet | Five-card slots (four internal and one external) | CA$139.00 | |
| Leather Money Clip Wallet | Solid-brass money clip for folded cash, plus four card slots | CA$139.00 | |
| Traditional Bifold Leather Wallet | Billfold cash pocket and six card slots; holds up to 12 cards in its six slots | CA$169.00 | |
| Leather Trifold Wallet | Wide middle pocket for up to 20 paper cash notes, four card slots, and one ID slot | CA$179.00 | |
| Mystery Wallet Seconds | We pick the design. We pick the color. May have slight imperfections. Final Sale. | CA$39.00 |
We’ll laser-engrave initials, names, or dates on your wallet. Our engraving shows up clear and legible, and it will never fade away. You can add a name, date, or initials (limit 10 characters).
Not thrilled within 90 days? Return it, no questions asked.
- Return for an Exchange
- If you changed your mind or it wasn’t what you were expecting, we’ll be happy to exchange your purchase.
- Return for Online Gift Card
- All our gift cards are good for life and ready whenever you want to redeem it.
- Return for Refund
- We will process your refund within 5 business days of receiving your return.
We do not accept returns or exchanges for custom or engraved products, permanently altered products or final sale items. Returned items must be in resellable condition (e.g., belts must be unworn). Customers are responsible for return shipping costs.
Patina is the value that time puts on any object.
Patina is the finish you cannot buy off a shelf. Move the clock to see what we say happens to yours, and when.
Drag, tap a point, or use the arrow keys.
A few months
The change is not uniform and it is not fast. Expect the first visible shift within a few months of daily carry, and a distinctly different colour after a year or two. Lighter colours show it most obviously.
One year
Just like a baseball mitt, your wallet gets better with age and use. See what authentic full-grain leather looks like after 1 year. With use it absorbs the oils from your hands, deepens in colour, and takes on a shine that only time can produce.
Five years
Our full-grain leather doesn't wear out; it develops character. The belt you buy today will look even better five years from now. It will soften, develop a rich patina, and become uniquely yours.
A decade
Across more than 19,000 reviews our customers rate us 4.8 out of 5, and the belts and wallets that come back to us for repair are usually a decade old and still serviceable.
For life
Our products are heirloom quality and intended to be passed on through generations. As one customer put it: "This is definitely a lifetime belt, you could pass this down to grandkids." - Anthony S.
Where it shows first
A wallet carried daily in a back pocket will develop a different character from the same wallet kept on a desk, because patina records how the thing is used.
Wallet
Wallets live in pockets and pass through hands every day, so they build patina faster than anything else we make.
Belt
A belt earns its character at the buckle, along the holes you use most, and everywhere denim rubs against the strap.
Notebook cover
Covers that ride in bags and sit on desks develop a soft sheen across the spine and corners first.
Watch band
Worn against the wrist all day, watch bands darken and soften quicker than any other small good.
Bag
Handles and flaps show it first: every grab and every buckle pass deepens the colour.
Bags & Travel
A leather tote bag is a stylish, durable option that will last a lifetime. Our leather tote bags also have large pockets on the inside and outside, allowing you to organize your bag with ease.
| Bag | Now | Regular |
|---|---|---|
| Leather Toiletry Bag | CA$119.00 | |
| Everyday Satchel | CA$159.00 | |
| Leather Tote - Everyday | CA$199.00 | |
| Leather Crossbody Bag | CA$239.00 | |
| Leather Tote Bag - Weekender | CA$279.00 | |
| Leather Crossbody Bag - Deluxe | CA$369.00 |
The small things
Belts, wallets, bags and the small things: notebook covers, watch bands, keychains, dog collars, desk goods. All full grain. All made in our workshop. All covered for life.
Leather Keyfob - Maple Leaf
CA$14.00
CA$19.00
Leather Keyfob - Northern Lights
CA$14.00
CA$19.00
Leather Coasters 4 Pack - Stout
CA$14.00
CA$19.00
Leather AirTag Case
CA$34.00
CA$44.00
Leather Mousepad
CA$44.00
CA$54.00
Leather Valet Tray
CA$49.00
CA$59.00
Leather Sunglasses Case
CA$79.00
CA$89.00
Leather Guitar Strap
CA$89.00
CA$99.00
Everything we make is covered for life.
For all warranty issues, our first step will always be to repair the item. If the item is not repairable, we will replace the item. We will cover all shipping costs; just send it to us for a free repair (or replacement).
It covers
If it fails under normal use, we repair it or replace it, free. That includes stitching that pulls, hardware that breaks and edges that split.
It does not cover
It does not cover scratches, wear or patina. Full grain leather is supposed to do that, and we like seeing it.
4.8 out of 5. Over 19,000 reviews.
Worn in, not worn out. This belt and me, both look better with time.
He stole one of my leather belts around 15 years ago, it's been a long standing joke between us, and it finally disintegrated right before his visit. I wanted to get him a new one, ordered from Popov.
Great wallet, very good leather and workmanship is top class. I like it so much I am going to buy 3 more for gifts
Great belt, and love that it's made in BC.
I think I have a dozen or more things from Popov now, all still in service and looking great. This key coffin is my latest addition and is perfect for me.
The size of the wallet is perfect, and the construction is incredible. The leather is thick and the stitching on point. Plus it’s smells incredible! It will probably outlive me!
Very well made. You can tell by the feel and smell that this is real leather. I would definitely recommend this belt to someone looking for a quality belt
Hand made in Canada, top quality. Can't ask for more.
Join the Patina Club
Earn reward points on every purchase. Redeem for discounts on future purchases. There's no cost to join, start earning points and benefits right away!
Ways to earn points
- Sign up
- 100 points
- Place An Order
- 1 point for every $1 spent
- Write a Product Review
- 100 points
- Refer Your Friends
- 400 points
Ways to redeem points
- Order Discount
- 20 Points = $1
- Free Set of Coasters
- 200 points
- Free Wallet Gauntlet
- 300 points
- Free Shell Keychain
- 500 Points
- Free Mouse Pad
- 700 points
Traditional Tier
Sign up and be automatically enrolled in this VIP Tier. Get early access to all sales
Legacy Tier
Spend $250 USD with us and get bumped up to this tier. One-time bonus of 250 points. Extended 120 Day Returns
Heirloom Tier
Spend $500 with us and get moved into this tier. One-time bonus of 500 points. Exclusive Giveaways
Hats that don't suck
Your brand, stamped into leather and ready to turn heads. Proudly made in Canada. Trusted by over 500 businesses nationwide.
- Select from our range of high-quality hats, available in multiple colors to match your brand or style.
- Send us your logo or design, and our team will create a custom leather patch that captures the essence of your brand.
- After you approve your mockup, our team will carefully make your hats and ship them when finished.
- 24-47 hats + $99 Setup Fee
- 48-95 hats free setup
- 96-199 hats free setup
- 200-499 hats free setup
Free mockup in 1 business day. Minimum order 24 hats. Jockey Style +$2 each. We keep your stamp on file, so reorders never pay setup.
You got questions?
How long does it take to get my order?
Once your order is ready, we ship it using the method you choose at checkout. Standard: Estimated 9-21 days, no tracking. Express: Estimated 5-9 days, tracked. International Standard: Estimated 3-4 weeks, tracked where available.
Are there customs, duties, or tariffs on my order?
When a package is shipped within Canada or the USA, no duties or customs will be imposed. All our products are USMCA/CUSMA compliant and shipped via courier.
Do you ship to Australia and New Zealand?
All our products are proudly made in Canada and qualify for duty-free entry into Australia and New Zealand under the CPTPP trade agreement. Standard: Estimated 14-16 days, no tracking.
How do you engrave your goods?
We can laser-engrave initials, names, and dates. We use Times Roman 26pt font. All engraving will be on the front bottom-right corner of all our products. All products with engravings are final sale.
Can you make custom orders?
At this time we are only offering personalization (initials, names, dates) on our products. We are not accepting commissions for new designs.
Where are your products made?
All our goods are designed, manufactured, and shipped from our workshop in beautiful British Columbia, Canada. We are based out of Nelson, located in the valley of the Selkirk Mountains.
What happens if my order is lost in the mail?
We will always replace items lost in the mail due to the carrier's fault. To replace your lost shipment, your order must have been a tracked and insured parcel per our shipping options.
100,000 orders and counting.
18 People, One Workshop. Nelson, BC. Your order will have passed through several of these hands before it reaches you.
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2124 Ymir Road, Building B, Nelson BC, CanadaCall Toll Free: 1-888-777-1309. A person on our team answers.