Kelang Leather: from Klang tannery to a leather crafting hub in PJ
A 43-year-old family tannery from Pandamaran has reinvented itself as a shop, workshop and community for leather crafters, now based in Petaling Jaya.
Kelang Leather was once one of the last working tanneries in Malaysia. Today, as Malay Mail reported on 27 September, the 43-year-old homegrown brand is a leather crafting hub: a place to buy leather and tools, take a class, or order handmade gifts.
A family business since 1983
Wong Shang Teck, now 77, started Kelang Leather as a tannery in 1983, naming it after its first home in Pandamaran, Klang. Born on Pulau Ketam, he began working at a tannery in Menglembu, Ipoh in the 1960s and later spent two years training in Germany with companies that made tanning chemicals. His wife's family offered a Klang warehouse close to the port, which suited a business that imported its raw materials.
His children Ann Wong, 45, and Alec Wong, 42, grew up helping at the tannery. They took over in 2020 and now run it as marketing director and managing director.
Four decades of change
| Period | What Kelang Leather did |
|---|---|
| 1980s | Turned hides into finished leather for shoe, bag and belt makers around the country |
| 1990s | Added mass production of leather goods as an OEM producer |
| 2005–2018 | Made belts, boots and bags for government uniformed bodies, at one point 10,000 pairs of boots a year |
| 2016 | Closed the tannery completely, after struggling to find workers |
| 2020 onwards | Sold leather and crafting kits online during the pandemic, then opened a shop and workshop at Zebra Square, KL in 2024 |
What it offers now
The shop sells leather, tools, care products and "Made in Malaysia" handmade goods. Its artisans also make customised corporate gifts, with minimum orders starting at 100 pieces for journals. For people who craft for a living, the team offers consultancy and technical support.
Leathers range from cow, sheep, goat and buffalo to CITES-certified crocodile, monitor lizard and ostrich leg. Alec told Malay Mail they have never sold pigskin and do not offer snakeskin.
The team of about 15 includes several former customers. "We are building a community of leather crafters," Alec said.
Visiting
Kelang Leather moved from Zebra Square to a new retail store and workshop at Block B, Level 2, Menara Harvey Norman, Petaling Jaya, opening on 1 October. Leather crafting workshops run by appointment, from RM250 per person, and can be arranged for corporate groups.
The full story, including the family's views on leather and sustainability, is on Malay Mail.
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