Henrock

Crafting hand-sewn leather goods for world-class restaurants is a special kind of craft – especially when it involves a kitchen led by Simon Rogan. Having previously made items for L’Enclume, as well as custom knife rolls and slips for their chefs, I was thrilled when the team reached out again. This time, the brief was to create 12 custom menu wallets for Henrock.

Here is a look behind the scenes at how these deep red full grain leather menu wallets came together.

Crafting for Henrock: Sustainability & Local Sourcing

Working with Simon Rogan’s team is always a privilege because our values align so closely. Their restaurants are famous for sourcing ingredients as locally as possible, and that philosophy extends to the items on their tables.

Full grain leather itself is a remarkably sustainable material when sourced responsibly. It takes very little energy to process compared to synthetic alternatives, and it utilises a byproduct that would normally go to landfill after livestock processing. Creating durable, long-lasting pieces from a secondary material fits right into the ethos of farm-to-table dining.

Step 1: Grooving for the Perfect Fold

To give the wallets a clean fold without stressing the full grain leather, I needed to reduce the bulk along the spine. On the inside surface of each wallet, I carefully cut precise grooves across the leather. This allows the deep red leather to bend smoothly and lay flush when closed.

Step 2: Hand-Punching and Hand-Sewing

Every single stitch on these wallets was done completely by hand – by me. Before a needle ever touched the leather, I punched the holes for stitching along all the edges.

Hand-stitching takes time and absolute focus – each individual wallet took an hour to sew. The result is a seam that is far stronger and more durable than anything a machine can produce, ensuring these wallets hold up to daily restaurant service for years.

Step 3: Interior Menu Cards and Functional Design

Inside, there is space for 4 menus designed to guide the guest through their dining experience:

1. Welcome Message
2. Short Menu
3. Full Menu
4. Choices Menu

To keep everything secure while maintaining a sleek profile, each wallet is held closed with a matching red elastic cord.

Continuing the Partnership

It is always a privilege to craft items for Simon Rogan’s restaurants and chefs. Alongside larger restaurant projects like these 12 wallets, I frequently craft individual gear for their team – like these knife slips for head chef Alex.

A huge thank you to the team at Henrock for supporting local crafts people and trusting me with another fantastic project!