Welcome to Wild Pally! I’m Emma, the creative mind and hands behind this leatherwork venture. My journey into leatherwork began way back in Year 11 at school, when I wanted a competition bridle for Stock Horse Challenges but couldn’t afford one. Instead of giving up, I decided to make my own, even though my first attempt was more glue than stitch and ended up fitting my pony better than the intended horse! The bridle still exists as a reminder of how far I’ve come. But from that humble start, my passion for leather crafting took hold.

For my Year 12 HSC Major Work in Design & Technology, I upped my game and made three more bridles, a pair of reins, and even a stitching pony for hand-stitching all with much more skill and better materials than my first attempt. Straight after graduating, in 2017, I officially registered my first business, ‘Emma Green Leatherwork and Art,’ and focused on selling bridles, breastplates, and reins. Along the way I visited several saddlers and watched numerous YouTube video’s and did a lot of experimenting in order to up my skills!

Initially, I also offered custom watercolour paintings of people’s horses. I’ve always loved painting, but no one seemed interested in that part of the business. So I shifted my focus to leatherwork, and in many ways, I’ve brought the two together. The designs I carve into the leather and then paint now feel like a throwback to those early days of watercolour painting. In fact, for a long time, when I painted on canvas or art board, something always felt like it was missing – like I wasn’t using the right medium. Now, I know leather is the right canvas for my artistic expression!

Despite my growing passion for leatherwork, things didn’t quite take off right away. I wasn’t charging enough for the time and materials that went into each order, and I didn’t have the right setup to make the business sustainable. So, I made the tough decision to step back and join the team at Buffalo Girl in Byron Bay. I gained invaluable experience in leatherwork and learned the ins and outs of running a successful handmade business. Over time, I decided to rebrand, moving away from bridles and tack and toward products that aligned with my evolving style.

And that’s how Wild Pally was born – a name inspired by the beautiful Palomino horses. Wild Pally is where western meets modern, blending the rugged spirit of the outback with clean, contemporary designs. I now focus on crafting custom leather goods like keyrings, belts, apple watch straps, phone pouches, and more. Every piece is customisable and made with the same care and attention I’ve put into my work from the start.

What sets my work apart is the attention to detail in every step. I carve and tool all the designs by hand using a swivel knife, and various other specialised tools to bring each piece to life. Sometimes, I even add a bit of paint to merge my artistic roots with my newfound passion for leatherwork , making each piece truly unique.

Looking ahead, I hope to share what I’ve learned with others, whether through teaching leatherwork skills or offering printable patterns for those either just starting out or those who already have experience under their belt! But for now, I’m thrilled to continue creating beautiful, handcrafted leather pieces that combine functionality with artistic flair.

So, whether you're here for a custom ‘made to order’ piece or browsing our ‘ready made’ collection or wanting to learn about leatherwork, welcome to Wild Pally. Together, we’ll keep crafting stories in leather, one stitch at a time!