Introducing Tenter Scotland
Introducing Tenter Scotland by Jess at Skyeskyns
As Waternish starts to stretch into the longer days and wake up for the season, it feels like a lovely time to share a bit more about something new for us here at Skyeskyns.
Tenter Scotland is our brand new little sister brand, sitting alongside our core sheepskin work, which many of you will already know. For me, it came from wanting to explore something a bit different with leather, to create pieces that feel expressive, full of colour and character, while still staying true to our sustainability ethos.
Tenter Hook
The name Tenter comes from tenterhooks, the frames traditionally used to stretch leather by hand. I love that it quietly links what we do here on Waternish with a wider tradition of leather making. It’s part of our own sheepskin process, and also part of the work of the Italian artisans we source our bark tanned bovine leather from for this project. It felt like the right name for something that connects those shared approaches while taking things in a new direction.
This collection has really been shaped by place. Over the last year, we’ve been developing it between Loch Bay and our Stein workshop, often looking out at the views around us. The shifting sea, the lines of the hills and the changing colours of the sky have all fed into the designs. We worked with the Glasgow School of Art Rural Lab in Forres to develop the forms, drawing from these landscapes to create something that feels balanced and considered. The colourways too reflect Skye, inspired by what we see every day.
A big part of the process for me has been learning the traditional craft of marbling from a New York based artist. We’ve been using watercolour gouache rather than acrylics, which fits much better with how we approach things at Skyeskyns. It’s slower and more hands on, and every piece is marked by hand, so each one is slightly different.
Bookmark
The range includes everything from small, giftable pieces like bookmarks and card holders through to journal covers, wallets and cross body bags. Some designs include touches of shorn sheepskin, as a wee nod back to where we started. For me, this isn’t about traditional leather, but a fresh, colourful take on heritage craft, bringing a bit of art into everyday life.
After launching Tenter in the US earlier this year, we’re now getting ready to share it closer to home. It’ll be available in our Waternish shop and in our sparkly new Portree space, where you’ll also be able to see parts of the production process from early May.
Waternish is such a creative place to work, full of innovation and making, all shaped by the landscape around us. If you’re visiting, do come and see us. We’d love to share Tenter with you. You can also follow along on Instagram and Facebook (@Tenter_Scotland) to hear