PID Atelier

From discarded leather to unique accessories

PID Atelier transforms rescued vegetable-tanned leather into wallets, cardholders, keychains, notebook covers and other long-lasting everyday products. By working with leftover leather from the bag industry and designing with circularity in mind from the start, founder Jochem Duyff shows that simplicity, good design and “waste material” can go hand in hand beautifully

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About PID Atelier

PID Atelier was founded by Jochem Duyff, a graphic designer from Nijmegen who has been consciously busy with sustainability for more than 25 years. After working at well-known Dutch design agencies, he reached a point where he no longer wanted to use his creativity for just any company. In 2015, he decided to only work on projects that contribute to a better future and founded Positive Impact Design. Alongside helping organisations communicate their sustainable ambitions visually, he slowly started designing and making leather products himself in the PID Atelier. Jochem is someone who clearly prefers action over endless discussions. His motto, “Less talking, more action,” runs through everything he creates, teaches and shares.

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About the waste

PID Atelier mainly works with rescued vegetable-tanned leather, often coming from leftover streams in the bag and fashion industry. These are high-quality leather pieces that are too small, irregular or surplus for larger productions and would otherwise risk ending up unused or discarded. Instead of treating these leftovers as secondary material, Jochem embraces their limitations. Available colours and quantities often depend entirely on what leather is rescued at that moment, making each production run slightly different.

About the process

Circularity is built directly into the design process. Many PID Atelier products are constructed from a single folded piece of leather, avoiding glue, unnecessary stitching and mixed materials wherever possible. This keeps the products strong, repairable and easier to reuse again in the future. The process combines digital design thinking with hands-on craftsmanship. Leather is selected carefully, cut precisely, folded into shape and assembled by hand in the atelier in Nijmegen. For larger orders, PID Atelier collaborates with a social workplace, combining ecological impact with social impact in the same process.

About his creations

PID Atelier creates wallets, cardholders, glasses cases, notebook covers, coasters, keychains and personalised business gifts. One of the clearest examples of the studio’s philosophy is the Hammerhead cardholder: a folded leather design made from a single piece of vegetable-tanned leather without glue or stitching. The products feel minimal and timeless rather than trend-driven. Designed to age beautifully, be used daily and stay around for years instead of being replaced quickly.

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Origami but with leather

A lot of PID Atelier products are inspired by origami-like folding techniques. Instead of adding more materials or more complexity, Jochem often removes elements until only the essential structure remains. Sometimes the smartest circular solution is not adding something new, but designing with less from the very beginning.