Tan explored various creative outlets before turning his attention to leathercrafting (All photos: Low Yen Yeing/The Edge)
Out of all common textiles, genuine leather is one that never goes out of style thanks to its durability and luxe appearance. The prime choice for handbags, shoes and accessories, it is known to be stiff, structured and polished right out of the box, progressively improving as time passes. The patinas, softer and shinier textures, even scuffs or scratches that develop over years of use reflect its owner’s lifestyle. To Tan Boon Leong, founder of custom leather goods label Over Time Leathercraft, these are what make every item all the more special.
While Tan’s current approach to his craft is to create the perfect product to complement an organised daily routine, the business actually began from a much more chaotic place. “I started leathercrafting towards the end of the pandemic as a sort of hobby. At the time, I was really stressed with work and suffering from anxiety,” he says. The strain was even affecting his sleep, leading to him seeking out a psychologist. It was not until his roommate introduced him to a famous self-help tome that things finally took an upward turn.
“The book was Ikigai: The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life. It tackles four concepts — passion, mission, vocation and profession — which essentially encourage you to find what you like to do. It questions if your livelihood brings you joy and recognition, and solves people’s problems while bringing in money. If these three circles can overlap, that’s your ikigai,” Tan explains.
This new approach to life pushed him to explore multiple creative outlets, but it was a chance sighting of a leatherworker on social media that captured his attention. Thinking it looked cool and suspiciously easy, he decided to purchase basic materials and tools and learn something new.
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Though the craft was invigorating, self-teaching was anything but straightforward. “The first few products I made were not very good,” Tan laughs. “So, I searched for professional classes in Malaysia and signed up for a workshop by Tyde Goods, a business quite renowned in the local leathercraft community.” Wanting a more thorough education, he travelled to Taiwan, where the local culture rooted in Japanese artisanship helped him hone his skills and gain a deeper understanding of the trade’s history.
The idea to establish Over Time came after Tan had built more confidence in his abilities. “I named it as such because coming home from my corporate job and using my after hours to do leathercraft was almost like doing OT. There was barely any space between the two,” he notes. Despite his passion, concerns over stability deterred him from committing full-time.
That changed in May 2024 at a meditation camp where he met a guru who cautioned participants against spreading themselves too thin. “He emphasised that juggling more tasks than you can handle will lead you nowhere, which really resonated with me. I was constantly worrying about my day job while I was crafting, and when I was at my 9-to-5 I was dreaming about the items I was working on at home,” he recalls. This revelation was the final puzzle piece, driving him to resign from the corporate world and fully focus on running Over Time.
Each item, painstakingly produced at his home-based studio, is crafted from top-shelf materials. Clients first pick from Tan’s catalogue of designs, choosing the shape and size that best suits their needs. Then comes the fun part — going through the extensive range of colours and leather varieties, during which Tan provides an in-depth explanation of how each option is made and weathers. For extra personalisation, names, initials and significant words can be embossed in metallic lettering too.
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More importantly, Tan hopes his work and design philosophy will inspire an appreciation for our wearables that goes beyond skin deep. Natural signs of ageing accumulated after multiple seasons are indications that a product has served its purpose well. “A lot of people tend not to like products that develop patinas and scratch more easily, especially after they’ve already spent a lot of money to buy them. But it’s important not to look at these as damage — these make the pieces unique.” Through this sentiment, the brand’s name also references the lasting power of each wallet and cardholder, emphasising that these items should be utilised to their fullest potential instead of left to collect dust in a wardrobe drawer.
By broadening people’s knowledge, Tan unveils what goes into the production of these daily necessities that are often unappreciated (at least until we misplace them). A deepened admiration for the craft leads to better purchasing choices — prioritising quality over appearance or recognisable branding. The conscious buyer is more likely to cherish their pieces for longer and use them well, encouraging a more sustainable consumption cycle. At the same time, this attracts more attention to the local leathercraft scene, creating more opportunities for hobbyists and small home-grown labels.
“In Malaysia, there are actually quite a lot of people taking it up, but mostly as a hobby. Buyers here don’t know as much about leather, and handmade products are expensive, though not as much as the big fashion houses. The market is growing, and I think we just need more education on the materials we buy and use every day.”
This article first appeared on March 30, 2026 in The Edge Malaysia.
