Ayla

Traditional leather crafting methods and contemporary design is used to create leather items that are timeless and durable.

Ayla originals are hand crafted from beginning to end with love and passion for the product and the craft.

03/09/2026

✈️ Aviation seems to be this week’s theme… but the workshop has definitely been taken over by wine! 🍷
This double wine bag is handmade from gorgeous Diesel leather and designed to carry two bottles comfortably and securely.
A structured floor gives it stability, while the internal divider keeps the bottles apart. Add a flap closure, sturdy carry handle and a beautiful, leather finish and you've got a gift that is both practical and special.
Wine bags make fantastic gifts. They're useful, reusable, relatively affordable for a handmade leather piece and can be personalised with initials, names or a special detail.
For birthdays, housewarmings, anniversaries, thank-yous, weddings or corporate gifting…
Or just because showing up with two bottles of wine in a handmade leather bag is considerably more stylish than showing up with no wine. 😉

Handmade. Personal. Made to last.
That's the Ayla way. ❤️

01/09/2026

Made for a milestone birthday and made to go flying.
A rugged vintage leather messenger bag with space for the things a pilot actually needs — logbooks, documents, charts, notebooks and pens, with two A5 pockets, a pencil case, an additional full sleeve and a zipped main compartment tucked neatly beneath the flap with a magnetic closer.
Finished with an adjustable shoulder strap, sturdy top handle, his initials and, of course, a little “Handmade” tag.
A practical piece with plenty of character.
60 years. Countless stories. And hopefully many more miles in the air. ✈️🤎

31/08/2026

5 PRACTICAL WAYS TO IDENTIFY GENUINE LEATHER VS SYNTHETIC LEATHER

Some synthetic leathers are now made so well that they can look and even feel almost exactly like real leather.

So, how can you tell the difference?

(1)CHECK THE BACKING

Look at the back of the material.

Genuine leather usually has a natural, fibrous or suede-like backing.

Synthetic leather often has a fabric backing covered with a coating.

(2)LOOK AT THE GRAIN

Real leather usually has natural variations in its grain and pores.

Synthetic leather often has a repeated and more uniform grain pattern because the texture is manufactured.

(3)FEEL THE MATERIAL

Genuine leather normally feels more natural, warm and flexible.

Synthetic leather can feel more plastic-like, although high-quality synthetic materials can imitate this very well.

(4) CHECK THE EDGE

If you have access to an unfinished or cut edge, examine it closely.

Genuine leather shows natural layers of fibers.

Synthetic leather often shows a fabric base underneath the coating.

(5) BEND AND WRINKLE IT

Bend the material and observe how the surface reacts.

Genuine leather usually develops natural wrinkles and changes in the grain.

Synthetic leather may bend more uniformly and the artificial grain can remain very consistent.

DON’T DEPEND ON JUST ONE TEST.

30/08/2026

From my window with a very full heart. ❤️
Birthdays have always made me a little emotional. I never quite knew why. Maybe it was another year gone by, or the unknown of the year ahead. Somehow, there was always a tear.
Not this year.
This year was filled with love, laughter, spoils and the kind of happiness that makes you stop and think, wow… I am really lucky.
And then, on our way home from a weekend in Hermanus, Shaun and I took a little unexpected trip through memory lane.
We drove past the Marine Hotel, and there it was — the patch of grass where I had my very first kiss.
In Onrus, 'Kadoesie' was still there, just as I remembered it. Suddenly I was back at See en Sand holidays, bonfire New Year's Eves and carefree summer days.
And driving around the mountain, when we drove past Cool Bay — I remembered bleached-haired boys paddling out, girls in bikinis, and the beautiful freedom of being young.
So many memories. So much life.
And I realised how grateful I am for all of it. For the memories, the experiences, the people I've loved, and the people who love me.
This year, there wasn't a birthday tear.
Just gratitude.
And the overwhelming feeling that I am, without a doubt, the most spoilt girl in the world. ❤️

20/08/2026

✨ PRODUCT DAY | THE CAVIAR SERVING BELT ✨
Veg-tanned leather, hand dyed and paired with nickel hardware.
The belt itself is a 5cm double-buckle belt, with a whole little serving system clipped onto it:
🖤 Moulded serviette holder
🖤 Squeezy sauce bottle holder
🖤 Tubular blini holder
🖤 Ice bucket that will carry the caviar bowl set on ice, that attaches to the belt and a leather sling
🖤 2 spoonholders either side of the bucket
And the best part? Every attachment is clip-on, so the belt can be configured as you please.

A rather fancy solution to a very fancy shmancy problem. 😉

*hoping for proper pics from the event planner

18/08/2026

I've never even had caviar… and here I am making a caviar service belt! 😂
From the inspiration, to the sketch, to the absolute chaos on my workbench — this is what the process really looks like.
Every new project stretches me a little further. I get to learn, figure things out, make mistakes, change things, and hopefully end up with something that works as beautifully as it looks.
I’m loving every single baby step of this journey. ❤️
And who knows… maybe making the belt is the first step towards actually trying caviar! 😄

13/08/2026

Scissor Bag ✂️

A hairdresser’s tool bag… because apparently scissors deserve their own little leather home too! 😄
Designed with a handy back sleeve for your combs and 4 dedicated scissor slots inside the front pocket, keeping your essential tools together, organised and ready to work.

Handcrafted in leather by Ayla Leather

11/08/2026

At last, I can share this beautiful little story with you. 💚💛
A very proud Grandpa popped in, absolutely bursting with excitement about his new grandson who was about to be born in the UK. And what better way to remind little Samuel of his South African roots than with his very own Springbok kit — green and gold vellies and a matching dummy clip. 🇿🇦
Samuel arrived last Wednesday, and true to his word, Grandpa sent me a photo the very next day. 🥹
The timing couldn’t be more perfect with the ultimate rugby rivalry coming up next Saturday — Springboks vs All Blacks! 🏉🇿🇦🖤
Judging by the photo, I think Samuel’s vellies are still just a little big… but I’m hoping they’ll be lying right next to him on the couch when the Boks take on the All Blacks. 😂💚💛

Welcome to the world, little Samuel. May you grow up knowing just how proudly South African your roots are. 🇿🇦💚

06/08/2026

Project completed... ❤️
What an incredible privilege it was to be entrusted with something so precious to someone.
The soft tan leather, delicate floral cross, and Kylah's name were all chosen by her, and they perfectly complement the gentle beauty of the Bible without taking away from its story.
Every project teaches me something new, but this one not only taught me new skills, it also reminded me that I'm sometimes preserving the things people hold closest to their hearts.
I hope this Bible continues its journey for many years to come. ❤️

Address

Strand

Telephone

+27834133302

Website

http://www.aylaleather.co.za/

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