Ever wondered what sets a $15 street-bought wallet apart from a handcrafted leather one? Spoiler: It’s more than just the price tag. In this showdown, I break down the real differences between mass-produced knockoffs and the durable, handmade pieces I create right here in my garage at Coastline Leather Goods. From materials to stitching, discover why quality always wins.

After six months of using my one-piece leather wallet, it became clear that while it was perfect for vacations, it wasn’t quite cut out for daily life. Cramming it full of cards made it bulky and unorganized, prompting me to craft a new solution for my everyday carry needs.

Enter the Pismo Vertical Bifold. This wallet is my go-to for its sleek design and practical organization. It’s compact enough to fit in my front pocket while still offering the structure I needed—no more lumping all my cards together! The slim side pockets are perfect for the small amount of cash I carry, and the separation of frequently used and less-used cards makes everything more accessible.

The aesthetics? Shiny brown leather on the outside paired with a matte green interior makes it both robust and refined. It’s an upgrade that blends style with functionality, which is exactly what I was looking for.

Let’s talk stitching irons. The good, the bad, and the why. Before we dive into the pros and cons of each type, let’s identify what those types are. There are 3 popular types I’ll be discussing here. The European, or French style irons, the diamond irons, and the stitching punch.

Like any new hobby, it can be intimidating to jump into something with very little knowledge. I remember back when I first saw leathercraft videos and wanting to dive in headfirst but was quickly paralyzed with intimidation when it came time to purchase some leather. There were tons of options, and I had no idea what was good, bad, right, or wrong. What does chrome-tan mean? What does veg-tan mean? What’s the best leather for a simple wallet? I seemed like every decision on what to buy led to a ton of questions. Thankfully, this is why it’s awesome living in the era of information.

Check amazon and you’ll find a million leather craft kits for a reasonable price. In fact, that’s how I started as well. However, over the years through a lot of trial and error I’ve learned what works, and what doesn’t. Or should I say, I’ve learned what works for me. So here’s my favorites.