Luke, the maker behind Loopy Leather, is a self-taught leatherworker and carver who proudly claims to have graduated from the “College of YouTube” with a PhD in “Trial and Error”.

His leathercraft journey began at 20, following a couple of years experimenting with different creative mediums. Over the past decade, he has developed a passion for leather’s versatility and endless possibilities. For Luke, leathercraft is more than a traditional skill; it’s a practical craft that is slowly dying out, yet offers the opportunity to personalise everyday items and create beautiful works of art designed to last a lifetime.

Every piece Luke creates is a one-off, and he prides himself on "never making the same piece twice".

Now based in the Rodney district, Luke has spent several years travelling and working on farms throughout New Zealand and Australia alongside saddlers and cowboys, experiences that helped him refine his skills and develop his own distinctive style.