ABOUT
“During this journey in discovering my creativity and developing my signature style of work in craftsmanship I fell in love with the stuff they call leather.”
Mary Wing To is a Leather Artisan/ Designer and Whip maker based in London U.K.
A potent mix of drama, fashion and art combined with a love of all things equine, The Manchester born Artisanhas a unique multi-disciplinary skillset and her creations put a new twist to the evolution and fine tradition of Leather craftsmanship.
Mary graduated with a distinction Master’s Degree in Fashion Design and Technology at The London College of Fashion, and is also a City & Guilds trained saddler from Capel Manor College. She started renovating leather goods and producing fine leather products for some of London’s prestigious West End brands and also trained as a bespoke coat maker on Savile Row, she continued to perfect her leather skills as protégé of the Queens’ Master Saddler and Master Harness Maker at The Royal Mews, Buckingham Palace.
Mary is dedicated to preserving Saddlery Craftsmanship and has a deep passion for leather. She sculpts, carves, moulds, dyes and hand-stitches it to create outstanding luxurious products and sculptures winning accolades of national and international awards for her workmanship. With the ability to work with leather in all forms and driven ultimately by her vision and love of leather, fashion, and Horses from the catwalk to the stable, from dress to dressage. Her list of high profile clients have included Her Majesty the Queen, Nicholas Oakwell Couture, Prince Michael of Kent, Princess Benerdict of Denmark, B. Akerlund, Foxsearchlight films, Eva Menz, Nick Skelton CBE and Charlotte Dujardin CBE.
Mary Wing To is a Leather Artisan/ Designer and Whip maker based in London U.K.
A potent mix of drama, fashion and art combined with a love of all things equine, The Manchester born Artisanhas a unique multi-disciplinary skillset and her creations put a new twist to the evolution and fine tradition of Leather craftsmanship.
Mary graduated with a distinction Master’s Degree in Fashion Design and Technology at The London College of Fashion, and is also a City & Guilds trained saddler from Capel Manor College. She started renovating leather goods and producing fine leather products for some of London’s prestigious West End brands and also trained as a bespoke coat maker on Savile Row, she continued to perfect her leather skills as protégé of the Queens’ Master Saddler and Master Harness Maker at The Royal Mews, Buckingham Palace.
Mary is dedicated to preserving Saddlery Craftsmanship and has a deep passion for leather. She sculpts, carves, moulds, dyes and hand-stitches it to create outstanding luxurious products and sculptures winning accolades of national and international awards for her workmanship. With the ability to work with leather in all forms and driven ultimately by her vision and love of leather, fashion, and Horses from the catwalk to the stable, from dress to dressage. Her list of high profile clients have included Her Majesty the Queen, Nicholas Oakwell Couture, Prince Michael of Kent, Princess Benerdict of Denmark, B. Akerlund, Foxsearchlight films, Eva Menz, Nick Skelton CBE and Charlotte Dujardin CBE.
In 2010 she was awarded the prestigious City & Guilds National Lions Award U.K for creative craftsperson of the year and also the Medal of Excellence Award for her sheer hard work and dedication. Mary won the ultimate Supreme Award at The World of Wearable Art (WOW) competition in New Zealand for her all leather-handcrafted masterpiece of a mythological female centaur ‘Hylonome’ and made headline news around the world.
In 2013 Mary was awarded a scholarship from the Queen Elizabeth Scholarship Trust to study and learn the traditional art of Whip Making a rare skill to be found today and has since produced whips for Olympic gold medal riders.
A Registered member of the Society of Master Saddlersand in recognition of her dedication to her craft, which has inspired many, Mary was appointed a Freeman of the City of London in 2012 and in 2015 was made a honourable Liveryman of The Worshipful Company of Cordwainers an established tradition dating back to the medieval times.
Today Mary works for the iconic luxury brand Chanel, running its UK Fashion Atelier working on a range of products from Handbags, Costume Jewellery and Shoes. As well as working on personal client bespoke commissions and her whip brand ‘Whip in Hand’ offering luxury whips from her London studio.
If you would like to contact Mary, please do so by one of the following methods.
Email : info@marywingto.com | Tel : +44 (0)7780956477