70 Years of Lakeland Leather: Where Our Story Began

This year, we celebrate 70 years since our founder, Jack Standring, first opened the doors of a small gift shop in Ambleside. What began with tea towels, knick-knacks, and locally made scarves has grown into a name recognised across the UK for premium leather and sheepskin.

To mark the occasion, we sat down with Jack’s son, Richard Standring, to share how our story began, the turning points that shaped our business, and why the smell of a sheepskin coat still takes us right back to those early days.

Q: Richard, for those who don’t know, how did Lakeland Leather begin?

It’s not easy to make leather. Or should I say, it’s not easy to make proper leather — leather that’s soft to the touch, and will last a lifetime.
We first bought leather in the late 1950s… well, technically, sheepskin — mainly gift items like mittens. Back then, it was frightfully expensive, which worried Dad. He was happiest stocking tourist souvenirs: painting materials, tea towels, and knick-knacks. Then came woollen knitwear and scarves, made right here in Ambleside. It’s hard to believe Ambleside had a factory in those days! But then, one day, our little shop’s mix of products changed — and we evolved into a fashion business almost without realising it.

Q: What was the brand’s first big step into leather?

I was 18 when Dad sent me and my brother Michael to source new products. I remember being dispatched to Somerset to buy sheepskin mittens. We had a little green van — probably a Ford — slow, rattly, and with no heater. But I loved every second of that trip.
I came back with far more than mittens — hats, scarves, moccasin slippers, booties, mules… the van was crammed. Dad wasn’t thrilled when he saw I’d blown the budget, but once we displayed everything in the shop, customers loved it. Looking back, that trip was the turning point that transformed us from a gift shop into a fashion retailer with a reputation for quality.

Q: How did we go from buying stock to making our own?

In those days, finding manufacturers was tough — no internet, just word of mouth. We bought mostly from wholesalers, but quality varied. Then we found Strong & Fisher in Northamptonshire, who owned several tanneries producing beautiful soft leather and suede. That was a game changer.
We started designing our own sheepskin coats, always choosing the highest quality materials. It was 15 years after our first Ambleside store that we opened a second in Keswick. By that time, our reputation for sheepskin and leather was second to none. We even had a dedicated sheepskin room in Keswick — the smell alone would draw customers in.

Q: What keeps our passion for leather alive today?

I still get excited when we design and make a new coat. Modern tanning means leather is softer than ever, and that’s what we’ve become known for — soft, natural leather and sheepskin. I think Dad and Michael would be proud of what we’ve achieved.
For me, it’s not just about the business legacy – that’s simply a result of everything else. It’s more so that the products we lovingly created are still loved and worn to this day. I’m proud of that. It’s quite something.

From a single shop in Ambleside to stores across the UK — and now a thriving online presence — our journey has taken us far beyond the Lake District. We’ve evolved with the times, embraced new technologies, and reached customers in every corner of the country.

Yet, seventy years on, our heart remains exactly where it began: in the craftsmanship, the care, and the character that define every piece we make. We continue to create leather and sheepskin that stand the test of time — pieces that marry timeless style with enduring quality, always inspired by the spirit of the Lake District.