Isle of SkyeLeather Co

Isle of Skye Leather Co occupies the Old Ticket Office at the end of Armadale Pier in Sleat, by the CalMac ferry terminal. Thomas Hyslop began working with leather around 40 years ago, first in Lerwick and later through an upholstery business on Skye; his son Robbie joined him in the trade, and the pair relaunched the business under its current name in 2011 after Robbie's family moved back to the island. Working from a small pier-side workshop, they hand-make belts, bags, wallets, book covers, dog leads, sporrans and kiltware, along with bespoke pieces made to order. The shop also sells sheepskin and reindeer hides and vegetable-tanned leather goods. As one of the few businesses trading directly from Armadale Pier, it catches passengers arriving and departing on the Mallaig ferry as well as visitors touring Sleat. The workshop and retail counter remain a two-person, family-run operation.