Written by Menswear Style in Interviews on the 14th March 2024

Billy Tannery was founded in 2016 by Jack Millington. A farmer’s son who spent his early career in marketing, he had no previous experience in the leather industry. After discovering that thousands of goatskins were going to waste each year in the UK, he joined forces with childhood friend Rory Harker to launch Billy Tannery. Tapping into local leather knowledge, Billy Tannery built a pioneering micro-tannery on a farm in the Midlands and the sustainable, bark-tanned leather now completes the circle. The first leather brand of its kind in the UK, with a vertically integrated supply chain from hide to final product, Billy Tannery is able to offer something extremely rare - genuinely traceable leather goods. The growing range of leather goods is designed and made in England for those who care about shopping locally and responsibly, without compromising on quality. Billy Tannery’s range of products includes bags, wallets, aprons and small leather goods. The company offers a lifetime repair guarantee on all of its products in an effort to ensure many generations of use, one of the main factors in making a product sustainable.

Billy Tannery have recently launched unisex goat and deer leather accessories for 2024. The new Zip Tote bag is an update on the brand’s original and bestselling Gote - a practically sized goat leather tote bag, now updated in a smaller size and with a zip closure for added security. Made from the brand’s signature sustainable goat leather, the Zip Tote is available in tan, dark brown or forest green leather.

Also new is the versatile Large Pouch with detachable strap. The generous pouch is designed as a laptop sleeve or under-arm folio case. The newly added shoulder strap converts it into a multi-tasking, soft leather shoulder bag. Made from vegetable-tanned goat or deer leather, it's a durable and stylish accessory that will last for years to come. The pouch is available in a choice of four colours including black, chestnut and forest green goat leather and bark deer leather. 

This is a shortened transcribed edit of episode 215 of the MenswearStyle Podcast with Jack Millington, Founder of handmade leather bags brand billytannery.co.uk. You can listen to the full version on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favourite podcast player.

We sit down and interview Jack Millington of Handmade Leather Bags brand Billy Tannery.