HUMBLE BEGINNINGS

During the 1950s, the Halton Hills area was well known for the leather industry and its many quality glovers and tanneries. The surrounding area offered premium hides from horse and cow, all holding perfect natural qualities for crafting industrial gloves and apparel. Business couldn't be better for the leather industry. The area became known as 'Leather Town'.

During this time, Marzo Glove had been a successful manufacturer, supplying hydro and welding industry workers with gloves and apparel. As the needle trade industry began to favor offshore pricing and importing brands, the local handcrafted products with higher price became less desirable. Local tanneries and manufacturers began closing their doors.

In 1996, Marzo Glove restructured and changed their name to Hides in Hand. With the introduction of moose, deer and buffalo hide leathers, Hides in Hand began to design fashionable handwear and focus less on industrial/protective wear. As Canadian leather crafters, our goal was to create the best and warmest handwear possible.

But, there was always room for more. In the early 2000's Hides in Hand was approached by a moccasin company from Northern Ontario. They were retiring their business and were interested in our company to continue on as they had learned of our shop, our leathers and our strong commitment towards everything being handmade on the premises. We were taught by their Indigenous Elder the craft of moccasin making and since then have collaborated with Indigenous artists across Canada showcasing their artwork on our moccasins.

We are honored to collaborate with our artists, who's beautiful artwork is skillfully embroidered onto our leathers. It is a privilege to showcase their cultural heritage and artistic talent in our products. In recognition of their creativity and contribution, each artist receives a generous royalty for every item sold, ensuring that they fairly compensated for their work and empowering them to continue creating stunning pieces that celebrate their heritage.

Over the years, our creative growth has expanded to creating handcrafted slippers, gloves, handbags and various accessories. Our unique pieces can be found in gift shops, souvenir stores, border crossings and airports all across Canada.

Our growth has also extended to the digital realm, with an active social media presence and a global reach through our online platform. Alongside our online presence, we showcase our leather treasures at local pop ups and craft shows, connecting with our community in a relaxed down to earth manner. And our pride and joy? Our flagship Boutique in Erin Ontario, a place where we welcome Canadians and visitors around the world to experience our premium craftsmanship firsthand.