What to Know Before Buying Designer Leather Sides
By Tandy Leather — Tandy Leather, Inc. | Published: 2026-10-29
Category: Buying Guides
Designer leather sides offer unique colors and textures at a discount, but they may have imperfections. Learn what to expect and how to pick the right hide for your project.
Quick answer
Designer leather sides are a cost-effective option for colorful accents, bag interiors, and upholstery, but you must accept potential imperfections and natural variation in color, thickness, and finish.
What Are Designer Leather Sides?
Designer sides are discounted leather hides sold as-is from Tandy Leather. They come in a range of colors and finishes, making them ideal for adding pops of color to projects like handbags, pocket flaps, and bag interiors. The trade-off is that each hide may have holes, cuts, or other visible defects, and the color, thickness, and hand feel can vary from hide to hide.
Your decision rules for buying designer leather sides
- Accept imperfection: Designer sides often have holes, cuts, or other visible defects. If your project can work around or hide these flaws (e.g., bag linings, small accents), this is a great deal. If you need a pristine surface for a large visible area, look for full-price sides.
- Expect variation: Color, thickness, finish, and hand feel vary from hide to hide. For a single project, buy all your leather at once to reduce mismatch. For multiple projects, accept that each side will be unique.
- Choose your color wisely: White sides (like Designer Side White) work well for dyeing or painting, while yellow sides (like Designer Italian Side Yellow) add a bright accent. Both are versatile but consider the final look and whether the natural shade matters. If you need a specific shade for a matching set, a non-designer side may be safer.
Product facts at a glance
- Designer Side White: Designer Sides may contain imperfections such as holes, cuts, or other visible defects. You'll need to inspect the hide carefully and plan your project around the flaws, which is fine for smaller pieces or lined interiors.
Designer Side White - Designer Italian Side Yellow: Color shade, thickness, finish, and hand feel will vary from hide to hide in this collection. If you order multiple sides, they may not match exactly, so order all the leather for a single project at once to minimize variation.
Designer Italian Side Yellow
Who should buy designer leather sides?
Best for
- Crafters making small accessories, bag interiors, or colorful accents
- Budget-conscious buyers who can work around minor defects
- Projects where each piece can be unique
Not for
- Projects requiring a flawless, uniform surface across large visible areas
- Matching sets where multiple hides must be identical in color and texture
