08/23/2026
Meet local maker Jon Mance of Handy_Leather, who makes seriously beautiful, high-quality leather goods, all hand stitched with one hand.
At 22, Jon had a brain stem stroke that left the left side of his body paralyzed. During recovery, he started finding ways to make things with his fully functional right hand.
In 2023, he made his first bag from a kit. He then learned how to make leather goods completely from scratch.
Jon taught himself how to design, cut, assemble and hand stitch leather in a way that works for him. In October 2025, he finished his first completely self-made sling bag. Since then, he’s kept taking on harder projects, including the “Cambridge Satchel” seen here. He likes sharing what he learns with other makers along the way.
We love carrying work made by people who care deeply about their craft, and Jon absolutely fits that bill. His pieces are thoughtful, beautifully made, and built to last. And knowing just how much ingenuity goes into making each one makes us love them even more.
Come see Jon’s wallets and this beautiful bag at STASH.
