About Us
Our History
Meet The Team
John Bashaw
John Bashaw founded Bashaw Leathers Limited in 1991. He has been involved with sourcing and selling finished leather hides and skins for almost 40 years. He started his leather career with Moore Pearsall Leathers when Canada was a significant market for all types of leather. He learned from seasoned professional leather sellers from the UK, Italy, Spain, Pakistan, France, USA, and Canada. He also travelled the world attending the major leather trade shows in Paris, Italy, and Hong Kong.
Luc Thonon
Luc's leather experience is extensive. He worked for Walter Charron Limited, a top notch leather firm, from 1975 to 1998 representing leading tanneries around the world. Luc has been servicing customers from his Montreal base for years and established a fantastic rapport and trust. He joined Bashaw Leathers in 1999, when he attended international exhibitions in Europe and the Far East. He has visited many of our Tanners and has easily gained the respect of our suppliers.
Our History
In the beginning, in 1991, Bashaw Leathers acted both as a Wholesaler and Leather Agend specializing in selling garment leathers to a very healthy Canadian garment trade. In those days, Canada made most of the garments for Canada and the USA.
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In those years, we were the first Canadian company to exhibit in the major trade shows in New York, Boston and Miami, and we sold leather to the largest and best companies and brands in the USA and Canada.
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With the demise of the garment trade, we had to broaden our efforts to find sources of leather supporting all the trades using leather.
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in 2019, we ceased our wholesale operations, moved out of our warehouse in Toronto, and established our head office in Whitby, Ontario. Now we can concentrate our efforts on direct sales from our tanneries to manufactures and wholesalers in Canada.
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Thus far, business has been reasonable, considering the troubles caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
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All our tanneries continue working, within limits, dictated by their country's rules to prevent the spread of the disease. Logistics- getting goods from tanneries to Canada- has been the biggest challenge but with joint efforts and cooperation from all concerned, we have found ways to minimize freight costs and times.
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Today, the tanneries we represent supply leather for most applications. We have great sources of leather to make shoes, boots, belts, garments, bags, small leather goods, gloves, upholstery, home décor, orthopedic appliance , or industrial applications. We also sell double face shearlings to make shearling garments, boots, and slippers using a variety of sheepskin articles.
Made in Canada
While we will always support Made in Canada products, we know that sometimes is it not an option. Canada's labour force has changed, and it is very difficult, if not impossible, to find employees who have the skills to cut and sew leather or who would be willing to work in a factory and learn these skills.
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Several of our tanneries have vertical operation, using leather made by their own tannery, where they have a production unit making finished consumer products to a specification provided by our customers. We have been a valuable resource to Canadian companies who linked their administration, design and sales functions with foreign production, and they have flourished with their joint efforts.
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We particularly value our wholesale customers who sell and service a wide spectrum of trades and customers. Our sourcing efforts have always been to find new leather articles to expand the business of our wholesalers. We feel we are an asset providing information and resources in the rapidly changing world of leather.
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Whether your company wholesales leathers or manufactures finished products, Bashaw Leathers is interested to help you find the best leather or product to meet your demand.
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If you tell us about your requirements, we can suggest products that fit your needs. If you have an idea or are looking for new leathers, better leather, or you need a price point for your application, we can usually help. We can be your guide to find the leathers needed to turn your ideas into realities!
