A good brief does not need to be complicated. It needs to give design, sampling and production the same target—and distinguish the choices already made from the details we will explore together.
You can begin with reference images or an existing sample, then use the six parts below to capture the decisions that shape the product.
What should a custom leather goods brief include?
A clear custom leather goods brief should cover the product use, construction and dimensions, materials and colors, logo and packaging, quantity by SKU, destination, target timing, and the questions the sample should answer. This gives the brand, development, and production teams one shared product goal.
1. Start with the product and its use
Tell us what we are making first: a wallet, card holder, belt, key holder, passport cover or a coordinated gift set. Then tell us who will use it and whether it belongs to a brand collection, e-commerce launch, corporate gift or wholesale program.
The use case shapes size, durability, how the product is carried, its packaging and the direction of the budget. A few annotated references usually communicate more than a long list of unexplained links.
- Product name and primary use
- Target user or selling occasion
- Reference images or a sample closest to your idea
2. Make the construction visible
Construction determines how the product works. Note the finished width, height and depth; how it opens; the number and direction of slots, compartments or pockets; belt width and holes; and any proportion that should not change.
A hand sketch, annotated photograph or simple dimension table all work. If a detail is still open, mark it for development and we can compare approaches in the sample.
- Finished dimensions and key proportions
- Slots, compartments, pockets, holes and closure
- Fixed construction and details open to refinement
3. Describe material, color and hand feel
Material is more than a name. Texture, thickness, firmness, surface sheen, lining and edge finish work together to determine how the product feels in the hand. Tell us whether it should feel structured, soft, refined, natural or especially ready for daily use.
Share brand color values, a physical swatch or a color reference, and tell us whether thread, lining, edge paint and hardware should match or contrast. The brief can also specify equipment-assisted, selected hand or 100% hand stitching, giving us a clearer direction for the material and process combination.
- Leather or other material, texture and thickness direction
- Main color, accent color, lining, thread and stitching method
- Edge finish, surface character and hardware color
4. Show how the brand should appear
Logo position, size and application can change the balance of the whole product. Share a vector file and tell us whether you prefer embossing, foil, a metal logo or another method—and whether the mark should blend in quietly or become a focal point.
Packaging continues the same brand experience. Considering tags, barcodes, inserts, dust bags, gift boxes and cartons together keeps the presentation consistent from production to unboxing.
- Logo file, position, size and application
- Tags, barcodes, inserts, dust bags and gift boxes
- Unboxing sequence and carton marks
5. Share quantity, destination and timing
List the target quantity by SKU, color or size, and tell us whether this is a first trial, a one-time gifting project or a product planned for repeat orders. This helps us shape material preparation, production rhythm and packing around the project.
The destination country or region, preferred sample timing and target arrival date matter too. The earlier we see these milestones together, the more clearly we can plan the moments that need your input.
- Quantity by SKU, color or size
- Trial order, gifting program or repeat-order plan
- Destination, sample timing and target arrival date
6. Tell us what the sample needs to prove
A sample is not a formality. It turns decisions on paper into a product that can be held and compared. List what you most want the sample to settle: proportions, capacity, material feel, logo appearance, edges, hardware or packaging.
When the sample arrives, group feedback by construction, material, color, craft and packaging, and use annotated images to show locations where possible. One clear round of feedback moves the product toward approval more effectively than scattered messages.
A brief you can send to us
- Product name, use and reference images
- Dimensions, construction and fixed details
- Material, texture, color, lining, thread and stitching method
- Logo file, method, position and size
- Packaging components and unboxing presentation
- Quantity by SKU, destination and target timing
- The three most important questions for the sample
When it is ready, send the brief and reference images through our project inquiry form. We will begin with the product and shape the next step with you.