A couple of times a year I take a road trip to visit some tanneries & leather wholesalers around the UK, looking for something new to use for my watch straps. It was during one such tour, back in 2016, that I first came across kudu leather. It caught my attention and so I bought some of it and brought it back to Toshi Straps HQ. As soon as I started to work with it I realised how special a material kudu is. For me, it offers the perfect balance of comfort, durability, character, and natural beauty. It looks great, feels fantastic on the wrist, and only gets better with age. I’ve worked with many different types of leather over the years, and while they all have their strengths, quite simply, I believe kudu leather is the best material for making watch straps.
The photograph above shows straps I have made from various kudu leathers (left to right) – Bramble, Emperor Kudu, Dark Kudu & Midnight Kudu
Incredibly comfortable from the start
When choosing a watch strap, most people focus on colour or style, but the material itself can completely transform how a watch feels and wears. One of the biggest advantages of kudu leather is its softness. Unlike some traditional calf leathers that can feel stiff and require a break-in period, kudu leather is naturally supple and flexible from day one. That means a kudu strap wraps comfortably around the wrist almost immediately, without the rigid feel that some new straps can have. It moulds naturally to the wrist over time, becoming even more comfortable with wear. For daily use, especially on larger watches, that softness makes a real difference.
Soft, but surprisingly tough
Despite its softness, kudu leather is remarkably tough. Kudu is known for having a dense fibre structure, which gives the leather impressive strength and resilience. A kudu leather watch strap can handle regular wear while maintaining its integrity and shape, making it ideal for enthusiasts who rotate watches often or wear the same piece every day. It is this combination of softness and durability that makes it so perfect for watch straps. Kudu leather is also well knows to develop character beautifully over time, ageing in a way that enhances rather than diminishes its appeal.
Every strap is unique
This is one of the things I love most about kudu leather. Because kudu live in the wild, their hides naturally carry scars, scratches, and marks from their lives in nature. These aren’t flaws — they’re part of the story. Those natural markings mean no two hides are ever exactly the same, so no two straps are identical either. Of course, some parts of a hide are more marked than others, and as a result each watch strap carries a one-of-a-kind pattern of scars and texture, giving it individuality that cannot be replicated by mass-produced uniform leather. For collectors who appreciate authenticity and uniqueness, this is a major part of the appeal. The strap in the photograph above is made from “Dark Kudu” leather, and shows this natural scarring perfectly.
A more thoughtful choice
Another reason I value kudu leather is the environmental side of it. Kudu are wild animals, and are not farmed in intensive systems like some livestock. Without exception, the kudu hides I use are a by-product of a seasonal cull of Greater Kudu. This is a regular and controlled cull, mandated by the government of South Africa, aimed at managing the population of Greater Kudu in order to prevent overgrazing and maintain ecosystem balance. As with any leather product, sourcing and tannery practices matter, but responsibly sourced kudu leather can be a strong step toward more sustainable craftsmanship. I am careful to only work with tanneries that use skins that are the by-product of these mandated culls, and so I consider the kudu leather I make watch straps with to be a more environmentally conscious option than heavily industrialised livestock leather.
Perfect for watches meant to be worn
Kudu leather works especially well with tool watches, field watches, vintage-inspired pieces, and everyday sports watches. Its natural grain and relaxed character suit watches that are made to be worn, used, and enjoyed. It gives a watch personality without trying too hard. If you prefer polished perfection, it may not be for you. But if you value comfort, durability, individuality, and honest materials, kudu leather is hard to beat.
Final thoughts
A great watch strap should do more than hold a watch on the wrist. It should add comfort, personality, and longevity to the wearing experience. Kudu leather delivers all three. Soft yet strong, distinctive yet practical, and beautiful precisely because it is imperfect, kudu leather offers something increasingly rare: a material with real character. After using kudu leather since 2016, I firmly believe it’s the finest material I’ve found for making watch straps.
Currently available
At time of publising this blog post, I have eight different kudu leathers available. Each comes from the same raw product, and has the same structure, but different tanning techniques and dyeing processes produce leathers with quite different looks. If you want something light in colour there I still have some of the leather that started this journey for me – African Kudu. If something slightly darker is required, take a look at Dark Kudu or the limited edition Desert Kudu. Darker still is the wonderful Emperor Kudu – one of my personal all-time favourites. There is also Bramble, a burgundy dyed tumbled kudu with a slightly glossy finish, Midnight Kudu in a deep inky blue colour, the new addition Merlot Kudu that I’m so excited about (shown in the photo above), and I still have a small amount of the limited edition Shaman left too.