Bespoke leather commissions in Ho Chi Minh City
A commission at KOI's Ho Chi Minh City atelier is made around what you actually carry or wear: size, compartments, leather, thread colour and name mark are all agreed with you. Start on WhatsApp with your idea, reference photos and size. We reply with photos of pieces we have made, suggest a leather for your budget and give you a quote; you do not need to commit to anything at this stage.
Work from the bench
A few pieces made or finished at the atelier in Ho Chi Minh City.
Selected hides and tanneries
We recommend a leather for how the piece will be used, rather than steering you to the most expensive hide.
Tanneries
Our leathers come from European tanneries, including Haas and Alran in France, Weinheimer and Perlinger in Germany and Pomari in Italy. Crocodile comes from Heng Long.
Fine-grain calfskin
It has an even, pressed grain and a firm surface. It resists scratches and holds stamped initials crisply, which is why nearly half of the men's wallets in our catalogue are made in it.
Pebbled calfskin
Pebbled calfskin has a larger natural grain and feels softer in the hand than fine-grain calfskin. It hides scratches and holds its shape, which is why it is a common choice for everyday bags.
Box calf, Buttero, Italian cowhide and nappa
Smooth box calf suits dress watch straps and belts worn with a suit, while Italian cowhide is the base for most of our structured bags and needs a little more care. Buttero is vegetable-tanned, holds its shape and deepens in colour over the years, while soft nappa is for bags that should feel supple.
French goatskin
From Alran in France. Thin, light and tough, it is often used as a lining so a wallet does not get bulky.
Exotic leathers
Crocodile, alligator, ostrich and monitor lizard, with python for clutches and bags. Each hide is chosen for the order it goes into, so these need to be ordered earlier than other leathers.
How to commission a piece
- 1
Initial enquiry on WhatsApp
Send reference photos, rough dimensions or a photo of your watch lugs. We reply with photos of pieces we have made, suggest a leather for your budget and give you an estimate; you do not need to commit to anything yet.
- 2
Pattern drawing and leather approval
We agree the drawing or measurements, the leather and the written quote: 1–3 days for a strap, 2–5 days for a wallet or bag. If your reference is a brand's design, we talk openly about adjusting the details so the piece becomes your own design. Before cutting, we send you photos of the actual hide.
- 3
Bench work and hand-stitching
Watch straps take 7–14 working days of hand-stitching once sizing is set. Wallets and bags usually take 7–14 working days once the drawing is agreed, depending on the design and the leather. Bags with several compartments, mixed leathers, a custom mark or an exotic hide take longer, and we tell you the timing when the drawing is agreed. Each piece is saddle-stitched by hand with two needles and waxed linen thread, so one broken stitch does not unravel the seam, and the edges are burnished by hand in several layers.
- 4
Approval and handover
Before a piece ships, we photograph it from every side and send you the photos to approve. You can collect it from the atelier, where a watch strap is fitted and adjusted on the spot if needed; have it delivered to your hotel or another address in Ho Chi Minh City; or have it shipped abroad.
Exotic leathers and CITES permits
Crocodile, alligator and ostrich leather require a CITES export permit from Vietnam and clearance from the destination country, adding two to four weeks. We do not ship these leathers without the permit in hand. If you plan to carry an exotic-leather piece home yourself and need papers, ask us before you order; we will tell you the actual status of that hide lot.
Discuss your commission on WhatsApp
or call +84 901 678 999.
Visiting the Saigon atelier
2/16 Nguyen Bac, Tan Son Hoa, Tan Binh District, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Monday – Saturday: 9:00 – 18:00 (Sunday closed)
Message us on WhatsApp before you come, so we can set out the leathers and samples for your piece.
Commissioning a piece during your stay in Saigon
If you are visiting Ho Chi Minh City, message us early in your trip rather than on your final days. Some things are done while you wait at the atelier: a name or initials can be stamped with our ready-made brass letters in about 20–30 minutes once the position and lettering are agreed, and a regular leather belt is cut to size in about 60 minutes. Made-to-order pieces take longer. A watch strap needs 1–3 days to agree the measurements and leather, then 7–14 working days of hand-stitching. A wallet or bag needs 2–5 days to agree the drawing and leather, then usually 7–14 working days of making; a bag with many compartments, several leathers or a custom mark can take longer, and we give you the timing once the design is agreed. Crocodile, ostrich and other exotic hides are chosen one by one for each order, so allow extra time for them. Once a piece is finished, you can collect it from the atelier or have it delivered to your hotel in Ho Chi Minh City; within the city, delivery usually takes 1–3 days from the day it leaves the workshop. If you leave before making is complete, your order can be shipped to your home country via DHL or FedEx with full tracking.
Ordering from Singapore? Commissions shipped to Singapore →
Starting prices
The figures below are starting prices for pieces in our catalogue, to give you a sense of scale. Commissions have no general price list: we quote each one from the agreed drawing and leather. Prices are set in Vietnamese dong; the USD figure is an approximate conversion at a rate we set by hand. Shipping and import duty are not included.
Watch straps
Catalogue straps start at the price shown. A commissioned strap is quoted once the lug width, leather and finish are agreed.
Wallets and card holders
The starting price is for a slim card wallet from the catalogue. A commission is quoted from the agreed drawing: the leather, the shape and the number of compartments decide the price.
Belts
Catalogue belts start at the figure shown. A commissioned belt is quoted once the width, buckle and leather are agreed.
Bags
Catalogue bags start at the figure shown. A commission is quoted from the agreed drawing, and the price depends almost entirely on the leather and the size of the bag.
Small goods
Includes device sleeves, passport covers, key fobs and notebooks. The starting price is for small pieces such as key fobs and charms; laptop sleeves and crocodile pieces cost more. Made-to-size pieces are quoted once the measurements and leather are agreed.
Services at the atelier
Made-to-order pieces, plus repair, rewrapping and resizing work. Each has its own page in English.
What we make to order
Commissions are cut from the leather you choose and saddle-stitched by hand at the atelier, to the drawing and measurements agreed with you. We also stamp names and initials, rewrap headphones and wrap iPads, MacBooks and Smart Keyboards in leather.
Frequently asked questions
Practical answers on timing, leathers, cost, delivery, visiting the atelier and after-care.
How do I order a custom watch strap in Ho Chi Minh City?
Send a clear photograph of your watch lugs over WhatsApp. We read the lug width and the type of fitting from the photo and tell you the same day whether it can be made, then suggest a leather and give a rough price. Agreeing the measurements and leather takes 1–3 days, followed by 7–14 working days of hand-stitching at the atelier.
Can my finished piece be delivered to my hotel in Saigon?
Yes. Once your piece is finished, we can send it by courier to your hotel in Ho Chi Minh City; delivery within the city usually takes 1–3 days from the day it leaves the workshop. How long the making takes depends on the piece. A watch strap needs 1–3 days to agree the measurements and leather, then 7–14 working days of hand-stitching. A wallet or bag needs 2–5 days to agree the drawing and leather, then usually 7–14 working days of making; bags with several compartments, mixed leathers or a personalised mark take longer. For anything made to order, message us early in your trip rather than on your last day; if a piece cannot be finished before you leave, it can be shipped to you.
Which leathers and tanneries does KOI work with?
We source leathers from European tanneries, including Haas and Alran in France, Weinheimer and Perlinger in Germany and Pomari in Italy. Crocodile comes from Heng Long. Options include fine-grain calfskin, pebbled calfskin, smooth box calf, goatskin, Buttero, Italian cowhide and exotics. We suggest a leather to suit how the piece will be used and your budget, not the most expensive one.
What does a custom commission cost?
Each commission is quoted from the agreed drawing and leather; catalogue prices give a starting guide. Catalogue watch straps start from 1,440,000 VND (crocodile and alligator from 2,800,000 VND), card wallets from 850,000 VND, belts from 3,500,000 VND, bags from 3,800,000 VND and small goods from 800,000 VND. Exact quotes are confirmed in writing before work begins.
Can I take crocodile or exotic leather goods abroad?
Crocodile, alligator and ostrich leather require a CITES export permit from Vietnam and import approval in your country, which adds two to four weeks to processing. We do not ship these three leathers abroad without the permit in hand. If you plan to carry an exotic-leather piece home yourself, ask us before you order and we will tell you the actual status of that hide lot.
Can I visit the atelier in person?
Yes. The atelier is located at 2/16 Nguyen Bac, Tan Son Hoa, Tan Binh District, a short ride from Tan Son Nhat Airport. We are open Monday to Saturday, 9:00 – 18:00, and closed on Sunday. We suggest messaging on WhatsApp before you come, so the leathers for your piece can be set out.
Do you rewrap headphones and electronic devices?
Yes. We rewrap headphones in cowhide or calfskin, with a pattern made for each model: about 1–2 days to make the pattern, then 3–7 days of hand work. Wrapping an iPad usually takes 1–3 days when the queue is normal; larger orders and more complex designs are given a time when we discuss them. Headphone and iPad work takes days rather than minutes, so it is not done while you wait. For a laptop or another device, message us on WhatsApp first. For headphones, we give an exact quote once we have seen them.
What warranty and repair support do you provide?
We provide a 6-month warranty covering stitching and structure, such as loose seams, a cracked edge or hardware that fails through a fault in the making. Stretching and fading from use are natural wear and are not covered. After the warranty ends, pieces can still come back to the atelier for conditioning, re-stitching and repairs, charged by the work required.