About Us

Welcome to Kinfolk Leather, where beauty meets simplicity!

Named in honour of the kinfolk movement, a style of slow living that encourages creativity, simplification, and reclaiming our time for what truly matters, we are dedicated to providing an antidote to modern-day consumerism. In a world where fast, cheap, and impersonal items dominate, we believe in offering an alternative—a chance to embrace well-crafted, artisanal products that satisfy your needs, tell a unique story, and reduce waste through longevity.

Located in a cozy studio on the sunny coast of the Bay of Plenty in New Zealand, Kinfolk Leather is committed to creating personalised leather goods, such as our bespoke dog collars. We believe that there is beauty in simplicity, and our handcrafted products reflect this ethos. Our focus is on crafting exceptional pieces that are made to last, ensuring that your beloved companion enjoys a collar that not only stands out but also endures.

We understand that dogs are more than just pets; they are cherished members of our families. That's why we take great care in selecting premium, ethically sourced leather and using meticulous craftsmanship to create collars that are as unique as your furry friend. By offering an array of customisable options, from leather colour and texture to hardware and engravings, we collaborate closely with you to ensure a collar that perfectly captures your dog's individuality.

At Kinfolk Leather, we also strive to make a positive impact on the environment. We embrace sustainable practices, source our materials responsibly, and aim to reduce waste throughout our production process. By choosing our products, you not only support local artisans but also contribute to a more sustainable future.

We invite you to explore our collection of beautiful, simple things. Each item is crafted with care, passion, and an unwavering dedication to quality. Discover the joy of owning an artisanal product that tells a unique story and stands the test of time.

Thank you for visiting Kinfolk Leather! We are thrilled to have the chance to offer you a personally crafted, meticulously handcrafted leather collar that will add a touch of elegance to your dog's attire.

Warmest regards,

Helen Langley


Founder, Kinfolk Leather

Ordering & Delivery

Where is my order confirmation?

This is automatically sent to your email address when you place an order. If you haven’t received your order confirmation within 24 hours, please get in touch with us just in case there’s a problem with your order. Please check your mailbox’s spam or junk folder before contacting in case the order confirmation has been diverted there.

Can I alter my order?

It usually takes us a few days to start processing your order, depending on how many orders are ahead of yours in the queue. So if you notice something that needs changing, please let us know as soon as possible and we will make the required amendments.

When will my order arrive?

We aim to make and post each order within 5-10 business days. Depending on where you live, delivery times can add a few days to this timeframe. If you need your order by a certain date, please contact us as we can usually accommodate requests.

What countries do you ship to?

We ship worldwide and you can view the cost of delivery here.

How much is shipping?

Shipping costs depend on the country where it’s being delivered. Tracked delivery within NZ is $7.50 and you can check out ourworldwide delivery rates here.

Can I track my order?

Yes. We’ll email you once your order has been posted with NZPost and that email will contain a link to track delivery progress online.

Returns

Can I return or exchange an item?

As our products are custom made and personalised, we do not accept returns or exchanges.

We do offer resizing at a charge of $15 + materials (if required) + postage, however it is much better to have the collar fit well in the first instance, so we strongly urge you to provide an accurate measurement when placing your order.

In the unlikely event that you receive a faulty item, or we have made an error with the sizing, please contact us at hello@kinfolkleather.com and we will do our best to set things right.

We strive to deliver our products in excellent condition, however please note that, due to the natural materials and the handmade nature of our products, minor inconsistencies and imperfections can be present. These small defects are not to be regarded as faults, rather as part of the charm and unique story of a handmade item.

Dog Collars

Are your collars suitable for my new puppy?

We recommend using a soft puppy collar when your dog is very young before moving on to a wider and stronger leather collar. Puppies will inevitably scratch and pull at whatever collar you put on them, as they get used to wearing one.

The leather we use for our traditional dog collars in 1/2" - 1.5" widths is 3mm thick. Even with our thinnest 1/2" wide collars, as the circumference gets smaller the leather starts to feel more rigid. This could be uncomfortable for small dogs and puppies so we recommend using our leather puppy collar until your dog's neck circumference reaches approx. 22cm (8.5") and then moving up to one of our regular leather dog collars. Depending on the breed, you may need a few collars for the growth period from puppy to reaching adult size.

How long are your dog collars?

We custom make each collar to fit the dog it has been ordered for. To do this we need your dog's neck circumference measurement, then we make a collar to fit. We cut the leather from hides that are approx. 140cm long so we can accomodate the size of all dogs.

What collar width should I choose for my dog?

As a general guide we recommend that if your dog’s neck circumference is:

  • less than 22cm (8.5") or puppy under 3 months old, choose a soft leather puppy collar
  • 22 - 28cm (8.5 - 11”), choose 1/2” collar
  • 26 - 30cm (10 - 12”), choose 3/4” collar
  • 28 - 40cm (11 - 16”), choose 1” collar
  • 38 - 50cm (15 - 20”), choose 1 1/4” collar
  • 46cm (18") and larger, choose 1 1/2” collar

Wider collars are stronger so please keep this in mind when you are selecting the collar width (basically, don’t walk a medium sized dog on a 1/2” collar! Choose at least 3/4” and preferably 1” +). For medium sized breeds and larger, we highly recommend choosing our D-End Dog Collar which gives another layer of leather to pull against when attaching a lead to the dee ring.

I have a really big dog, can you make a collar for him/her?

Yes! We cut the leather for our dog collars from hides that are approx. 140cm long so we can accommodate all dog sizes. We recommend choosing our widest collar - 1.5". As with any collar, make sure you regularly check the hardware and leather for any signs of wear. With great size comes great strength, so be sensible about your dog's temperament - if he/she pulls excessively or you expect to leave your dog tied up unsupervised, please choose a specialty dog collar instead.

Will the collar fit as my puppy grows?

Each collar has at least 5 holes, giving a range of approximately 7.5cm. If you let us know that your dog is a puppy, we can make the first hole his/her current neck circumference which means there will be another 4 holes to grow into. For smaller breeds this may be enough room to reach adulthood and for larger breeds it may not. Please let us know if you would like more holes added in addition to the standard 5 holes.

How do I measure my dog's neck?

We strongly suggest providing an accurate measurement when placing your order. If you follow the instructions below, this will allow us to make a collar for your dog that will fit him/her well.

1. Using a soft tape measure, record the circumference of the neck at the point where a collar would naturally lie.

2. Pull the tape so that it is snug but not tight. Record the measurement.

3. Enter this measurement in the personalisation text box when prompted. This measurement will be the middle hole of the collar, we will add at least another two holes either side.

Puppies - If your dog is a puppy, please let us know and we will make an allowance for growth when sizing the holes for the collar. Please feel free to give us a range (up to 12cm, i.e. 24-36cm) so that we can make sure there are enough holes to suit your dog's growth. We can be very flexible with the number of holes provided in the collar.

I've given the wrong measurement and collar doesn't fit, can you fix it?

Yes we can. Please send it back to us with an accurate measurement and we will rework the collar to fit your dog. We charge $15 + materials (if required) + postage.

Cat Collars

How do I measure my cat's neck?

Using a soft tape measure, record the circumference of the neck at the point where a collar would naturally lie. Pull the tape so that it is snug but not tight. Enter this measurement in the personalisation text box when prompted. 

If you do not have a soft tape measure, you can use a length of string which can then be laid flat and measured with a ruler.

Product Care

How do I look after my dog's leather collar?

LEATHER

Leather is a natural material and it can display natural marking and colour variations. Over time, the leather will soften with the oils from your dog's coat, developing a natural patina. With a bit of love and care, leather ages gracefully! Give it the occasional clean and recondition with leather dressing, and it will reward you with many years of service. Avoid getting it saturated with water as this can cause the leather to become brittle and more likely to break. For dogs that love to swim, we recommend keeping a secondary, waterproof collar for water-based outings. If your leather dog collar does get wet, allow it to dry naturally and then recondition with a good quality leather dressing. We recommend using our leather balm regularly.

HARDWARE

Brass will naturally dull and tarnish over time. You can leave it to develop a beautiful, natural patina or you can bring yours back to a beautiful sheen by polishing with brass cleaner.

As with any collar, check leather and hardware for signs of weakness. If rivets need replacing, contact us.