Peter Davies & Earth Five

It was 1968, after the adventure of overland travel to England work was found, first  in the famous Carnaby Street and then in a bank London as a computer operator lasting a few months. On the way back to Oz through in Afghanistan in had to make a small goat hide travel bag for myself & many days later was making more travel bags and passport pouches for other travellers passing through Afghanistan. That kind of leatherwork wasn't available in Afghanistan in those days, just heavy duty saddlery. I had never worked in leather before. That's where it all began; at the Sha Foladi Hotel in Kabul.

It was the dawn of the new era.

Arriving back in Melbourne as briefly the bagmaker in Stuff Leathery in Swanston Street, until meeting another leatherworker, and late in 69 we opened EARTH Leatherworks in Glenferrie Road Hawthorn.

Then it was back to London with EARTH2 Leatherworks opening as a small shop just off the Edgeware Road, creating leather goods for locals and the West End and Chelsea Boutiques.

Leaving EARTH2 in 72 with the co-worker, I took off to New York ending up on a barge on the Hudson River off Staten Island, eventually opening EARTH3 in Richmond, Staten Island, and making for customers in Greenwich Village NY. That workshop too, was left with the co-worker. Both co-workers he had taught the trade and they carried on successfully for some years. 

EARTH 4 was a moveable feast. Roaming the USA with tools in one bag and travel kit in the other, briefly on a houseboat in Sausalito CA, and eventually arriving back in Melbourne to open yet another leather shop, Earthgate.

Then came EARTH FIVE . With the partnership of Peter and Gary revived and back in business EARTH FIVE Leatherworks made just about anything to order and supplied sandals and assorted belts and bags to many outlets around Australia and items for TV and Movies - even Pirate Boots.

Gary took over Earthfive and I took a long sabbatical going back to graphic design and publishing. There were enough leatherworkers back then 

Alas, the shops in London & New York and even Glenferrie had closed before the arrival of the 21st century. Now there were many into PC publishing & graphics. It was time for Earth Five Leatherworks again! Evolving from the ubiquitous EARTH locations, not as the Phoenix arising from the ashes but more as going back to one's roots. 

EARTH FIVE Leatherworks - still loving the work. The more things change, the more they stay the same.

Here's "Old Faithful" Built in 1914 Clydebank, Scotland, and good for another 100 years!!