Baguio-based Raymund Nino Bumatay was posing for a photoshoot when his 5-year-old daughter suddenly started copying him: a small hammer for his mallet, a plastic fork for his leather chisel. Then she started hitting a piece of leather just like what her dad was doing.
The LeatherLuxePH founder, after all, is a “full-time father, part-time crafter.”
“This leathercraft journey is an extension of my journey in fatherhood, part 2.” said Bumatay, also known as Amon Ginoo. “Kasabay niya yung pagpapalaki ko sa mga anak ko.”
In this file photo shared by Amon, his daughter mirrors his actions as he works on a piece of leather.
It is fatherhood part 2 because while his first two kids are already in their twenties, his youngest two are 3 and 5 years old. They are almost as old as his pandemic-era project that has turned into a Filipino brand for aspirational fountain pen cases: sturdy leather pieces that go for five figures, perfect for its market of mostly doctors, lawyers, and CEOs.
Growth challenges
“The market that I’m serving is very conservative… very reserved,” said Raymund adding that “It is hard to grow” in a viral, digital sense. He also tried the e-commerce route to complement his Instagram presence, but ditched it after almost getting scammed twice.
Most of LeatherLuxePH’s customers also don’t usually post online. So while his products are appreciated by their buyers, they are rarely shared by their users. Instead, the brand reaches new people mostly through word of mouth and feature stories on top of their social media posts.
READ: An Artist in Leather by Butch Dalisay
For Amon, his brand’s reach has been “very organic in the sense that, mabagal,”But meeting “respectful” and “cultured” enthusiasts has made the challenging journey fulfilling so far.
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There’s also the challenge of working with different types of leathers. When he was just starting with the craft, he’d encounter mold issues with locally-sourced hides, especially since the weather in Baguio is very different.
“Umaga, mainit. Bandang hapon, malamig. Sa madaling araw, sobrang mahamog,” recalled Raymund. This also meant that he can’t stock hides for too long, especially since it usually takes him 8-10 weeks to finish a pen case. He also prefers to work with fresh hides to make sure that the pen case retains a high quality.
Sourcing hides overseas is also costly with the Philippine peso at a disadvantage. Shipping and other logistical processes also add up to expenses, pushing LeatherLuxePH product prices to the high end.
Connecting with leather
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While Amon can’t compete with pricing, he does so strongly with “intentional” design. For example, his leather penvelope case, he recalled, featured a soft padding that hugged the pen in place. The idea was to keep the pens safe while travelling no matter how much the case gets tossed around in a bag.
Since quality leather gains patina better with frequent use, he also wants to keep producing products that build character beautifully and are worthy of heirloom status.
“Isa sa mga experience ko before, kapag nakagawa ako ng item, it’s hard to let go,” Amon explained. “Kaya each item na lumalabas sa akin, I’m sharing a part of me to you.”
This precious connection to his works also brought in strong relationships with his regular customers. Their feedback and ideas help him think of new ways to elevate his pen cases, just like how his recent release, a hexagonal six-slot pen case, was an idea of a long-time patron. The penvelope was also made after years of consulting with another regular.
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Amon wouldn’t have met these patrons if it wasn’t for the Manila Pen Show. Though he was hesitant with the cost and logistics, constant prodding by Atty. Joanne Ranada made him share a table in 2023.
“That was a life-changing experience for Leather Luxe,” he recalled. “Iba pala yung nakikita ka ng mga tao. And you will see those people na mahilig sa pens and accessories? They are very passionate. Hindi sila yung passive na titingin lang.”
Quality upgrade
After the 2024 Manila Pen Show, Amon flew to Vietnam for a 9-day leather learning experience, a huge jump “from YouTube University” which exposed him to an entirely new level of crafting. He got past the language barriers with the use of tools, as artisans there pointed out a lot of small details to improve. They also taught him to make stitches smaller than what he would usually do.
“Pag nag-stitch ka kasi, kapag malaki ang spacing, mas madali matatapos. Pero sa kanila baliktad. For smaller items, to make it elegant, you have to have finer spacing,” shared Amon. “Mas matagal gawin. Challenge there is magkaka-carpal tunnel ka talaga over the long term, because you are using small tools and I have big hands.”
“Pero, ewan ko. I really enjoy it kasi”
New lessons learned also meant new tools to play with, as he continues to stitch leather by hand. It is a slower process, which also limits the number of pen cases he can make. But he said that makes his work more meaningful.
“Let her play”
Amon talks about improving stitches for his pen cases during an interview with the author in Baguio City.
“Kaya tayo may mga high end pens, it’s because of how they were made,” said Amon. One customer, for example, bought ten cases for pens that they wouldn’t use but would love to display because of the story behind each piece. “May legacy.”
That is his vision for Leather Luxe.
He also got unique fountain pens through his cases, with some overseas pen turners offering to trade their works for his, which he agreed to. Aside from developing new designs, he is also exploring working on exotic leather and considering a relatively-entry level case design for his brand.
“I’m also at an age na rin na, if I make something, I want this na pwede kong ipasa sa susunod na generation.”
One time, while he was working on leather, his daughter randomly asked: “Can I just watch you?” In another moment, Amon recalled, her youngest daughter asked where the money for her toys came from.
“That’s why you have to help me,” said Amon. “I need to make more pen cases.”
At Manila Pen Shows, he is always helped by one of his children. At home, in Baguio, his kids are present when he is at work.
That is his leather legacy at play.
“This is my family sharing something to the community.”
LeatherLuxePh at the Manila Pen Show in 2025
