Bench Craft Leather is a Canadian leather manufacturer with decades of experience crafting premium leather goods rooted in quality, heritage, and craftsmanship.
Roy Murakami began leather crafting in Kitchener, Ontario, in the mid-1940s after studying tool and die at Westdale Technical School in Hamilton. His expertise as a tool maker elevated his craftsmanship, resulting in some of the finest Canadian-made leather products in the industry.
After 25 years in the leather accessory business, Roy launched Bench Craft Leather, a Canadian leather manufacturer, from his garage with part-time help from his family, incorporating the business in 1976. Initially, he crafted luxurious eyeglass cases for opticians. He soon identified a need for better leather tool pouches in local stores. This led Bench Craft Leather to become one of the largest manufacturers of industrial leather tool pouches in Canada, supplying major retail chains nationwide.
As a meticulous dresser, Roy saw a gap in the leather belt market in Canada. By his third year, he had refined leather belt manufacturing techniques, leading to Bench Craft leather belts being sold in fine men’s clothing stores across Canada. Roy developed a nationwide network of sales agents, introducing his premium leather belts to independent retailers and regional chains. Today, Bench Craft leather belts and accessories are best-sellers in leading men’s clothing stores across Canada, known for unparalleled quality, style, and service.
From our humble beginnings, Bench Craft Leather has grown into a leading Canadian leather manufacturer, producing premium leather goods with a focus on durability and craftsmanship. Kitchener—once one of North America’s largest leather tanning cities—was home to many manufacturers producing skates, boots, shoes, furniture, and leather belts. Today, only a few remain across Canada. We take pride in our regional heritage and our adaptability as a Canadian leather goods manufacturer.
Bench Craft Leather is also a trusted supplier of leather products for government and institutional use across Canada. We provide a comprehensive range of professionally crafted leather products to police services, the military, the RCMP, and other emergency response organizations that demand reliability and long-lasting performance.
You can trust Bench Craft Leather’s commitment to quality and style. Whether dressing for a special occasion, a casual night out, industrial applications, or duty use, our handcrafted leather products are meticulously made with the same standards of excellence—yesterday, today, and for years to come.
