Our Founder

Described as a “massive figure of a man with a tremendous zest for life”, Arnold Wills and his wife Olive established the business in 1946. After World War II they returned to Rutland with little more than their battledress and service gratuity.

From a small workshop in their cottage in Rutland, Arnold and Olive transformed their passion for leather craft, into the largest manufacturer of its kind in Europe. For months at a time the adventurous duo travelled the globe in search of new markets and together built a truly international customer base.

Arnold Wills became known around the world for high quality leather craftmanship and timeless designs, that were made to last.