Celebrating 10 years of micro-manufacturing

Kohutt started in the shed of a rental property on the Victorian surf coast, with two sewing machines and a dream - my biggest sellers were a dog lead of any length you wanted (you'd be surprised how many people ordered 20m dog leads!), and a simple, robust swag/bedroll for motorcyclists and minimalists. Sometime later, the move was on to Tasmania, where I had nothing but a 3x3m garden shed to work from - it was too small for making much of anything, so I began working on small leather pieces, from wallets & card holders, which over time evolved into a full range of leather pieces, including the ever popular range of leather camera straps.

Eventually I was able to rent a friends shed, resuming the construction of things larger than your shirt pocket, focusing on general canvas works, bags and tarps. With a dream to drive around the world in an old Land Rover, I packed up my workshop into a shipping container and drove off, making it as far as South Africa before Covid-19 disrupted everything. I returned, somewhat defeated, although shifting right back into Kohutt as if nothing had ever happened - this time, working out of two shipping containers - one with windows & insulation, and one without - it was a dark and cold winter!

During this time I introduced some DIY projects, including the import of Japanese leatherworking tools and pre-cut leather projects, as a response to peoples desire to create things at home while stuck inside during a global pandemic. During this period I also began working on our range of field tarps and field rugs, both of which I used extensively during my Land Rover expedition. It was a productive period for me, also developing a leather door handle set for the Land Rover defender, along with the introduction of our wool blankets and wool/oilskin rugs, which were a development of a similar rug I'd started on at the beginning of Kohutt's inception, but did not perfect until the lockdowns.

With a new dream to sail to the Great Barrier Reef as the pandemic subsided, I furiously worked on Kohutt to build stock, and set off north with the intention to fly home and produce as required. Sadly, the pandemic was not over, and we lay stuck in port for half a year, two states away from home, unable to fly home and work .To bide my time, I rented a small shed by the water and built a timber rowing boat instead...

Eventually we did make it home, sold up everything and began work on a new dream: To build something entirely from scratch on a rural Tasmanian property. The plans were drawn for a house, including a large dedicated workshop for Kohutt. After a year of hard work in construction with friends and family, I'm proud to say I've finally moved in!

I think, in a way, 2025 also marks a time in which Kohutt has gone truly 'professional' - by this, I mean, it has wholly transitioned into a serious operation - that is not to mean it was not previously serious or real, but rather, it has grown up and perhaps fully matured into the vision I've held onto since the very beginning. Often in life, there is always the right time and place for certain things - and 2025 is the right time and place for the maturity, solidification and acceleration of Kohutt!

Thank you all for your support and interest in Kohutt's exploration of quality, micro-manufacturing & the production of enduring goods for the indoors & outdoors.

Nick.