Our Program
Learn the Art of Refined Leatherworking
Amblard Leather Atelier is the only place where you can learn the centuries-old techniques of leatherworking.
Founded by Béatrice Amblard, a Hermès-trained master artisan with over four decades of expertise, our San Francisco based studio offers a unique program encompassing four levels of leather classes using traditional French hand tools.
The goal of our leather school is to keep the art of refined leatherworking alive by training, inspiring creativity and teaching the future artisans the skills needed to create refined leather goods at the highest level of expertise.
At ALA, our comprehensive curriculum comprises four Levels, each consisting of 12 classes per session. We are teaching the program in three flexible formats:
Session: Full day classes offered on Tuesdays, Thursdays, or Saturdays with a 12 class commitment.
Intensive: Full day classes which meet Tuesday - Friday.
Evening: Offered every Tuesday from 6pm to 8pm.
The first 36 classes have been designed to teach the ins and outs of working with leather exclusively by hand. The last 12 classes are an introduction to machinery and how to incorporate the machines in the handwork you have mastered.
Amblard Leather Atelier is a progressive program consisting of predetermined projects. A different skill is taught with each project, this is why we do not skip projects in our curriculum.
To ensure a comprehensive understanding of our pattern-making methods, terminology, and foundational skills for future levels, all students begin their journey with our Level 1, regardless of prior experience. If a student does have prior leather working knowledge and skills, this helps them get through the projects quicker.
Amblard Leather Atelier is an "at your own pace" program. The amount of pieces created by the end of each class, session or intensive will depend solely on the individual student and is not guaranteed.
Immerse yourself in our vibrant community, forging connections with fellow students.