Recommended Distributors List

Reference
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Feel free to add listing to this wiki topic for findings distributors that you have bought from and recommend!

If you run or work for a distributor, have a customer add your business.

Cutex

https://www.cutexsewingsupplies.com/
https://www.ebay.com/str/cutexsewingsupplies

New Jersey, USA

  • distributes many C.S. Osborne tools and supplies

Recommended by @kemitchell.

George Barnsley & Sons

https://www.georgebarnsleyandsons.co.uk
https://www.etsy.com/shop/GeorgeBarnsley

Sheffield, England, UK

  • many tools
  • awls
  • knives
  • irons

Recommended by @kemitchell.

Hide & Leather House

https://www.hidehouse.com/

Napa, Norther California, USA

online and retail

  • contract-tanned leathers
  • lots of upper leather options
  • a little soling leather

Recommended by @kemitchell.

Keystone Leather

https://www.keystoneleather.com/

Pennsylvania, USA

  • soling leather
  • distributes through Sorrell Notions and Findings to the Western US

Recommended by @kemitchell.

Maine Thread

https://mainethread.com
Maine

  • waxed poly thread in many colors, twisted and braided
  • pre-made poly waxed ends
  • distributes some D.B. Gurney tacks
  • distributes some C.S. Osborne harness needles

Recommended by @kemitchell.

Maverick

https://maverickleathercompany.com/

Oregon, USA

  • Horween, including craft grade
  • S.B. Foot upper leathers
  • Wickett & Craig
  • Hermann Oak
  • a few Italian tanneries

Recommended by @kemitchell.

O’Baltor & Sons

local supplier for the San Francisco Bay Area

Not fans of the Internet. Call them.

263 E Harris Ave
South San Francisco, California
94080 USA
(650) 589-8759

Recommended by @kemitchell.

Ruby Ortho

https://rubyortho.com/

Commerce City, CO and Milwaukee, WI

A great source for natural crepe in many thicknesses, along with all the classic shoe repair offerings like soles, sheets, nails and of course orthopedic inserts.

Recommended by @OldspeedMFG

Panhandle Leather

https://www.panhandleleather.com/

Texas, USA

upper leather, sole leather, tools

  • distributes C.S. Osborne tools
  • house-made pre-cut insole and outsole leather
  • sell a house-made coad/wax
  • some Vibram heels and soles

Recommended by @kemitchell.

Rocky Mountain Leather

https://rmleathersupply.com

Utah

leather, tools

  • reproductions of Swedish lasting pliers
  • occasionally stocks house model inseaming awls
  • distributes many Vergez Blanchard tools in the US

Recommended by @kemitchell.

Sorrell Notions and Findings

https://sorrellnotionsandfindings.com

Oklahoma, USA

findings business of cowboy bootmaker Lisa Sorrell

upper leather, sole leather, tools, lasts

  • Homas SA de CV distributor
  • J&FJ Baker sole leathers
  • Keystone sole leathers
  • TINA knives
  • Tom Carbone awls and tools

Recommended by @kemitchell.

Starko Tools

https://starkotools.com/

Ukraine

  • made-to-order tools
  • awls
  • knives
  • irons

Recommended by @kemitchell.

Tandy Leather

https://tandyleather.com/

Fort Worth, Texas

online and numerous retail outlets throughout the USA

  • leather, including sole bends
  • general leather tools, e.g. stitching groovers, edge bevelers

Recommended by @kemitchell.

Tannery Row

https://www.thetanneryrow.com/

Chicago, Illinois, USA

  • lots of Horween

Recommended by @kemitchell.

Weaver Leather Supply

https://www.weaverleathersupply.com/

Ohio, USA

  • tools
  • upper leather
  • Ohio Travel Bag hardware
  • C.S. Osborne tools
  • Fiebing’s dyes and care products

Recommended by @kemitchell.

ZegZug

https://shoemaking.wiki/ZegZug

findings business of bespoke maker and consultant Marcell Mrsan

  • tools
  • materials
  • books

Recommended by @kemitchell.

Frankford Leather Company

https://frankfordleather.com/

Pennsylvania, USA
“Supplier to the shoe and foot health industries.” Officially, a business account is required to order from them, but they allowed me to create an account even without a business. I called them and asked.

  • Vibram and other rubber soles and heels
  • Blued brads, great for lasting
  • German leather sole bends
  • Barbour welts
  • Adhesives, tools, and all the materials you could think of for shoe repair

Recommended by @justletmechange.

District Leathers

https://www.districtleathers.com/

New York, USA
A fantastic leather supplier.

  • They carry several articles from Gallun Tannery
  • Interesting and unique leathers, such as kudu, horse (many varieties), elephant, and shark
  • They always have more in-shop than what’s listed on the website
  • The manager (Alex) is extremely helpful. When I was looking for a very specific horsehide, he special-ordered leather for me to try out.

Recommended by @justletmechange.

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@justletmechange, I’d totally forgotten about Frankford! Thanks so much for adding. District, too.

Just FYI, in case you haven’t used a forum running this kind of software before, since I watch this topic for changes, I actually got a notification that you’d updated the wiki post. That gave me a chance to look at what you’d added. It works pretty well.

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Of course, my pleasure. I love finding new sources for good stuff, so I don’t mind sharing.

I’ve never really participated in a forum before, so this is totally new to me. Correct me if I do anything dumb :joy:

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Be fearless!

I’d like this to be a forum for shoemaking, not an altar where shoemakers can worship online forum software.

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I notice you don’t have Springfield Leather on there, I don’t use them too much as they don’t carry tons (or are that competitive on much) for shoes, but they occasionally do have some things worth grabbing. Currently they have SB Foot sides for $50/side if you buy two. I’ve also enjoyed using their veg tan pigskin for side linings as well.

They sell veg tan split that is quite versatile, it’s economical for using as insoles/midsoles/counters on my throwaway cemented fitters (I sometimes double the layers and sew them together for more thickness when using splits for that) and it’s great to have on hand for last buildups as well. I usually look for a product like this in the <$2/sq ft range, and SLC has it. Heavy Veg Tan Split | Springfield Leather

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@cjackson, good callout on Springfield. I’ve a handful of orders there to my name, albeit more for small goods than shoe stuff, and nothing bad to say about the business. Actually, I’ll say their Hermann Oak belt blanks have been great for me.

I suppose I didn’t add them to the list here because I think of them more as a leather and leathercraft supplier than a shoemaking source. I did include some other leather distributors, but only ones that carry tannages meant for shoes, and usually some bottom stuff, as well.

If you think they carry SB Foot or other shoe stuff regularly enough to warrant a mention, by all means add them to the list. I made this topic a “wiki post”, so when you’re logged in you can scroll to the bottom, click “Edit”, and chip in:

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@OldspeedMFG nice addition, Ruby Ortho.

I hadn’t put together that New Berlin, WI is the greater Milwaukee area.