Colton Gates Leatherwork

Colton Gates Leatherwork Handcrafted and Traditionally Tooled Unique Leathergoods Hello and Welcome! I have a passion for all things Old West. (Which also makes the perfect gift).

I grew up on my family's cattle ranch, and have always loved everything Western. I am a designer and creator of fine, unique leather items, having tooled leather since I was a child with my Dad. Whether it be your new wallet that everyone wants to see, a customized handbag that no one can stop staring at, or that unique belt you've always wanted, I want to make it for you! Checkout out my beautifu

l new website at coltongatesdesign.com where you can find products for sale, and message me if you'd like something custom made, something truly unique!

This piece has tested me.There have been more than a few moments in making it when I’ve wondered if the idea in my head ...
09/01/2026

This piece has tested me.

There have been more than a few moments in making it when I’ve wondered if the idea in my head was simply beyond what my hands knew how to do. Patterns changed. Twice. Seams were pulled apart. Pieces were remade. Pieces thrown across the desk. And the floor. Problems I never anticipated had to be solved one at a time. Still solving.

But I’ve come to believe that’s part of making something worth making. I wake up excited each day to see where the journey’s going to take me today as soon as I clock out of my day job.

Craftsmanship isn’t always knowing exactly what to do. Sometimes it’s having the patience and guts to stay with an idea long enough to figure it out—to cut it again, stitch it again, rethink it, and refuse to settle for something simply because it would be easier.

And maybe that’s what handmade really means: the finished piece carries not only the marks of the maker, but all the moments the maker chose not to give up. I think that’s my favorite part of what I do, I’m never finished exploring, thinking, creating, and trying.

Still making. Still learning. Still becoming.

I really don’t care for celebrities. I think Dolly Parton may be the only one I follow on social media. This one struck ...
08/26/2026

I really don’t care for celebrities. I think Dolly Parton may be the only one I follow on social media. This one struck particularly hard, she was the best of us, without any close second in sight. This is one of my very favorite pictures of her, from my favorite magazine Cowboys & Indians I still have this issue lying around here somewhere. 2026 has been a bo**er, y’all.

I grew up in Oklahoma, where the West isn’t something you have to go looking for. It’s simply who we are. It’s in the en...
08/24/2026

I grew up in Oklahoma, where the West isn’t something you have to go looking for. It’s simply who we are.

It’s in the endless horizon and the red dirt (that I grew up thinking was everywhere, not just here). In worn leather, old barns, cattle guards, thunderstorms rolling across an open sky, and the quiet beauty of things made to work hard and last.

Living here has shaped the way I see design more than I probably realize. I’m drawn to materials that get better with age, craftsmanship that leaves evidence of the hand, and objects that feel as though they could have a story long before they ever belonged to you.

My idea of Western has never been about costume or nostalgia. It’s about a way of life—rugged, beautiful, practical, independent, and deeply connected to the land, and maybe being a bit of an underdog.

There’s something beautiful about the tools of a trade. Even though I own seemingly endless tools, paintbrushes,...
08/20/2026

There’s something beautiful about the tools of a trade.
Even though I own seemingly endless tools, paintbrushes, knives, and so on, I probably only use 5-10 of them religiously. Some are old. Some are new. Some have been used so often they’ve begun to carry the marks of the work themselves. Each one has a purpose, and each one leaves its own small signature behind.

I inherited most of the tools from my Dad. The little metal cups are part of a tea set I inherited from my great grandmother. They hold tools now. And yet, I will keep buying more. Before the finished piece, before the polish and presentation, there is the work: leather cut by hand, edges shaped, patterns carved, impressions struck one at a time.

I’ve always believed luxury should reveal the hand of the maker. The slight variations. The evidence of time. The hundreds of small decisions that turn a piece of leather into something meant to last for generations.

These are some of the tools behind my design world.

Made by hand. Made with purpose. Made to be inherited.

This is the new direction of our website and packaging. This isn’t just a place to shop. It’s a reflection of a life sha...
08/05/2026

This is the new direction of our website and packaging. This isn’t just a place to shop. It’s a reflection of a life shaped by ranching heritage, timeless craftsmanship, and the belief that the things we carry should tell a story. Every detail has been reimagined to create an experience that feels more like stepping through the doors of an old Western saloon than scrolling another online store.

The goal has always been simple: Western, but not costume. Luxury, but not flashy. Built with the same values that inspired the brand from the beginning—authenticity, permanence, and craftsmanship that deserves to be handed down.

We’re building more than a website.

We’re building a place that feels like home.

The next chapter is coming soon.

Texture creates depth.Depth creates character.
07/27/2026

Texture creates depth.

Depth creates character.

The West has always been woven into my family’s story.This week I had the chance to create something I’ve never made bef...
07/22/2026

The West has always been woven into my family’s story.

This week I had the chance to create something I’ve never made before—a custom bolo tie for my sister’s wedding, a birthday gift to myself. Could this be the start of a new addiction?

Here’s to honoring where we’ve come from, continuing to learn, and embracing what my 40s have to offer.

The final element of my logo is the circle.I chose it because circles have long symbolized unity—something without begin...
07/17/2026

The final element of my logo is the circle.

I chose it because circles have long symbolized unity—something without beginning or end, holding everything together.

When I first came up with this logo, my life felt like it had fallen apart. I was searching for belonging, for purpose, for something steady to hold onto.

Over the years, that circle has taken on an even deeper meaning. Loved ones are lost. Careers change. We leave old homes behind and build new ones. New love enters our lives. The things we treasure most are rarely possessions—they’re the people, places, and traditions that root us.

The older I get, the more I value the ties that bind.

That’s what my brand is about. Not just products, but heritage. Craftsmanship. Home. A reminder that we all come from somewhere, and that is worth remembering and sharing.

Thank you for following along as I’ve shared my story behind my logo. I hope you’ve enjoyed getting to know the heart of my brand.

The diamond in my brand comes from my mother’s family, the Lee Ranch, in Wheeler County, Texas—a place that has shaped g...
07/16/2026

The diamond in my brand comes from my mother’s family, the Lee Ranch, in Wheeler County, Texas—a place that has shaped generations of our family and remains close to my heart.

Family lore states that my great-grandfather chose the diamond for a practical reason. He wanted a simple brand that was easy to recognize without unnecessarily damaging the hide. Like so many ranch brands, it wasn’t designed to make a statement. It was designed to do its job.

Over time, though, it became much more than a mark on cattle. It became a symbol of family, hard work, and the quiet pride that comes from building something meant to outlast you.

On my mom’s side, livestock wasn’t just a way of life—it was a passion. Showing cattle and sheep was part of growing up, and some of my earliest memories are in the show barn, learning responsibility long before I understood its value.

Today, that same diamond lives on as part of my own brand, carrying a piece of my family’s history into everything I create.

Address

Oklahoma City, OK

Opening Hours

Thursday 10am - 6pm
Friday 10am - 6pm
Saturday 10am - 3pm

Telephone

+14055387660

Website

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