ALBANNACH
CRAFTS
ABOUT US
HISTORY/DON
In 2015 Don was living in Niigata City, Japan teaching English when a good friend from Oamaru sent him an antique belt buckle for a kilt belt. He approached Fukuda san a traditional leather worker and asked him to make a new belt, but instead Fukuda san taught Don how to make the belt himself which started his interest in leather work. Later on, he started learning traditional leather restoration techniques. Don enjoys using his tech drawing and art skills to tackle new items for clients and ourselves.
Albannach is Scottish Gaelic for ' Scottish ", following Don's strong Scottish heritage.
DENISE
Denise made a big change in career direction after 37 years in the health industry and was the shop manager of our Tyne St studio in the Victorian Precinct of Oamaru. She now runs Albannachs' shared space in a Victorian era building in Havelock, Marlborough. She is Don's first apprentice and has quickly adapted to the craft and contributing items both for the shop and commissions, creating some of her own designs and starting to assist in restoration work.
A NEW HOME
Update
August 8th, 2024, seen Albannach Crafts relocate and open in a shared workspace of another Victorian era building circa 1865 on Main Street, Havelock, gateway to the beautiful Marlborough Sounds.
The Smiths GrainStore shop was closed on the 12th of May 2024 in preparation to move north to Marlborough.
On the 20th of Nov 2022 Albannach Crafts moved into its new premises in the 1881 Smiths Grain store building at 9 Tyne St in Oamaru's Victorian Precinct.