With a foot in Vietnam and a foot in the Middle-east, VALK was founded in 2019, by Chris, Theunis and Crystal for one simple reason. The love of leather. 

On our travels we discovered a world of leather we had never before imagined, and like Marco Polo we wished to bring it back to our kin.

We love leather because it’s strong, reliable and of the earth. Our goal is to make you the last wallet, or knife roll, you will ever need. Where ever you go, your VALK goes too.  As you change, so it will change with you.Getting better with time. You have things. When you go somewhere, you may need them. So you take them with you… in a bag.

The bag should be tough, should carry your things and you should like it. VALK bags are tough, they’ll carry your things and you may even love yours. The point is: One should be able to focus on the important things and not get bogged down with trivial matters like things and bags. But again, you’re going to need a bag.

Also called “crazy horse” or oiled leather, Pull-up leather is characterized by having beautiful shifting colors and tones as the leather is touched and bent and used. Run the tip of your finger against the back of the leather and see how it changes.This is what we discovered on our travels and was part of the inspiration for starting this project in the first place.This leather is the truth. Leather as it should be.

It seems that all leather products these days have the words “Genuine Leather” attached to them as a stamp of quality. In fact, “Genuine Leather” is apparently a misnomer, having really nothing at all to do with being genuine. Usually these products feel very smooth to the touch with no visual blemishes or marks. This look is achieved by stripping layers of the outside of the leather and polishing it into oblivion.

So more processing = natural look? That doesn’t follow.

The designation “Full-grain” refers to leather that has NOT had it’s upper layers stripped away. The leather is used more or less in its natural state (after tanning and oiling of course).

So less processing = natural look. That follows.

And we think it’s more beautiful too. So sometimes you may see marks or creases, signs of life in the leather.This is all part of the beauty. You wouldn’t flatten the forests and mountains just so you could walk faster or see further.

Let’s face it, you’re not like them.