Tailfeather Concept Store

You’ll know you’ve reached Tailfeather when you smell rich leather and bush gum. The store’s Carrara marble benches are lined with hand-stitched wallets and bags. Nothing is cheap, but these are functional, durable products that will last you decades.

The range is inspired by the bush. Unisex wallets are available in kangaroo leather, dyed an earthy, desert-sand red, or perhaps tree-trunk brown. Cow-leather belts, briefcases and smaller satchels come in similar tones. The largest bag, the Kookaburra, involves 12 hours of continuous stitching. All leathers are finished raw, to soften over time. There are also messenger bags and totes made from hard-wearing waterproof canvas.

Scottie Neoh and Natalia Perez founded Tailfeather in 2010, from their 50-acre property at Tallarook, just outside of Melbourne. Neoh was looking for a pannier bag for his motorbike. When he couldn’t find one, he decided to use his graphic-design experience and Perez’s background in textiles to make one himself. Leather was the obvious choice. They stitched the first bags themselves – a job they’ve kept in Australia, despite expanding to stores such as Incu and Vanishing Elephant.

The Concept Store was opened in 2016, with help from Andrew Chew (Chew Burgers, Stray Neighbour) and Dani Dunlevy. Two extra heads means Neoh and Perez can stay focused on design.