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0I have been enviously shopping online for a traveler’s notebook ever since I found out they exist. I quickly became overwhelmed with choices and wanted to buy one of everything! Would I choose a FoxyFix or a Chic Sparrow? Or maybe I’d go with a classic Midori notebook (they are credited with inventing the system). In the end, I got the idea that maybe I could save a lot of money by making my own. As with most DIY crafts, I’m not sure how much money I saved once the supplies and tools were bought, but I sure had fun hunting down the supplies in Bangkok’s leather working district.
My first instinct was to check out China Town’s Sampan Lane, a famous area for wholesale craft supplies and many other things, or the famous Chatachuk(Jatujak) Weekend Market but once I asked around a bit, I learned that there’s a whole area in Bangkok for leather working. Wong Wian Yai is the name of a large round-about in Bangkok. Most easily accessible for most people by the BTS station of the same name. The Wong Wian Yai BTS station sits just south of the King Taksin the Great Monument. If coming from the Sukhumwit area, you’ll reach it on the Silom BTS line, a couple stops past the river.
Three-year-old Miss C quite enjoyed looking at the boats on the river as the BTS crossed. It was our first time taking the train across the river in our 5 years living in Bangkok!
Once exiting the station at Wong Wian Yai, head down 1 Soi Krung Thon Buri and you won’t have to walk far before you start to see many shops selling leather (both real and fake) by the roll, as well as any and every accessory you could need for leather working and all of the tools you could ever imagine.
Spoilt for choice, we wandered the area for a bit soaking it all in. In the end I settled on a couple of pieces of scrap leather to play around with, and some basic leather working tools. Here’s a few pictures from our day exploring Wong Wian Yai:
I’m quite happy with how my first leather-working project turned out and look forward to other projects in the future.
If you head to Wong Wian Yai to find leather working supplies in Bangkok, I’d love to see your haul, or your finished leather working projects! Feel free to share them in the comments or over on the Adventure Family Life Facebook page!
Thanks for the article. I have been looking for leatherworking supplies in Bangkok also. Unfortunately, I’m finding will be nearly impossible to find the same tools I have at home without spending a fortune. Can’t wait to go check out Wong Wiyan Yai sometime.
I hope you find what you are looking for in the Wong Wian Yai area!
Oh…I definitely won’t find what I’m looking for anywhere in Thailand. Since I posted my comment, I have been in touch with quite a few of the high end…well…as high end as you can get with what they have to work with. I’m actually doing a trial run having some shell cordovan shipped from the US. It will be interesting to see what the customs tax will be. I will be doing some training with one of the “masters” here too. Won’t be following the 2,3 or even 5 day course. More like getting a degree.
If I remember to, I’ll post what the customs are. If I forget, shoot me a message and I’ll post it here so that future googlers like myself can come across your post.
That’s a bummer that you won’t find it here! I’m a super novice so haven’t worked with anything so high-end! I know those customs charges can be killer here so hope they aren’t too bad for you this time around!
Are you in BKK? Have you attended any of the schools?
I am, Bangna! But I haven’t, that sounds like a neat opportunity
Hello, have you seen any star bond (leather glue) on that leather market area?
Thank you for this whole information^^
There are a variety of leather adhesives being sold but I don’t know about that specific one… I’m pretty new to leatherworking still 🙂
I would post a pic of my setup so you can get an idea of some esoteric stuff out there. And incredibly well made. True artisan quality. If you can speak Spanish, I can point you to the Facebook profile of some guy down in South America (out in the jungle I think)…and his tools are super cheap but he doesn’t speak any English so I can’t really join the club on Facebook
Found it for you
Here is his Facebook…
https://web.facebook.com/cristian.buchner.3
And here is his YouTube channel.
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCC-UqUDcvN-38ssaVQxrWsQ
You’ll save a ton of money.
I don’t speak Spanish but I can read well enough, thanks for the info! I’ll certainly check this out!
Hi,
I recently been to Thailand and with your post I finally got my tools and materials I’ve been longing for, finally. I was staying in India currently I wasn’t sure about the tools that are sold on the internet so I decided to use the opportunity and take chances in Bangkok as I was planning to go for a trip to Bangkok. Thanks to your post I gained confidence that I could find some leather working materials even as a non-local. I went to this shop called Sorsrimongkol where I met a lady who speaks enough english to help me choose things that will help my project, and also I purchased some other small things near by with her guidance. I can’t believe I actually Been to Wong Wian Yai market myself! I was worrying so much when I was just reading this post, on being lost in local market maze or not being able to find those shops. Actually for me it was more like I looked for the shop, took a cap, directed with GPS and when I reached all other shops for parts and leathers were close by, luckily.
It was really exciting.
So glad to hear you found what you were looking for and that the post was helpful! Happy travels!
Hey…me again.
Just curious as to what contact cement you have found here in Thailand. Back in the US, I was using DAP Weldwood (the flammable non environmentally friendly kind with the red label)
https://www.amazon.com/00272-Original-Contact-Building-Material/dp/B00106ETT6
All I can seem to find here is the DOG X66. Have you tried this? Is there anything better?
Finally got all my tools and leather from the US here! Can’t wait to finally play with all my toys.
Hi! I’m ashamed to say I’m still such a beginner…. ended up pregnant and lost all my free time again haha…. so I haven’t yet done any projects that require cement, I’m so basic! Sorry I don’t have any better advice! Let us know if you find something good here as I’m sure others who read this would love to know!
Hello Melanie,
Thanks a lot for the detailed post! I was wondering if you have a tip about where to get stamps to mark the leather with a brand (custom-made)…
Thanks in advance 🙂
Along the street in this area there are vendors selling stamps. I would ask them if they could make a custom one. I’m certain they could help direct you where if they can’t, but I haven’t done this myself! Good luck Fatima!
Thanks Melanie!