About Torus

What is a Torus? Is someone a bad speller?

In fact, Torus is a one-man workshop in Bellingham in Northwestern Washington State creating leatherworks from reclaimed materials. In the dictionary, a torus is a 3D ring (think donuts) and a decorative element of that same shape. Which, of course, has little to do with leather. But 9 years ago, in the dim and distant 90’s when artisan Matthew Linville began to teach himself hand-crafts, it was link jewelry and chain-mail armor that captured all of his time and attention. Each link in each chain was a torus; add being born in May (Taurus), and the name seemed to fit the fate. At first, every bag, book, bracer and bracelet incorporated a torus, but that prerogative faded. Yet even today rings are a common motif in Torus leatherworks.

Torus leather is reclaimed from second-hand leather goods. Old belts, purses, and coats are given a second life, and scraps are purchased from upholsterers who, after all, can’t use a piece that’s smaller than your seat. The thesis here is that no new leather is purchased to make Torus goods; by creating no demand, your purchase votes against processing animals for human consumption. And yet we get our durable, attractive leatherworks! The shop is tightly conservative (of materials and waste, not politically!). All paper, metal, leather, glass and plastic is diligently recycled; every effort is made to conserve energy and materials and reduce waste to near-zero.

All Torus products come fully guaranteed. If your new bracelet fails to live up to rigorous use, then return it to your merchant for repair or replacement, no questions asked. And send belts; we like to trade! Thank you for supporting small and conscientious business.