James B. Young lives and works on the unceded lands of the Arrernte nation in Mparntwe Alice Springs, and pays respects to elders, past, present and future.

He acknowledges the generations of First Nations people who worked without pay as stockmen and women in the Northern Territory, often on their own lands. He celebrates their craftsmanship, ingenuity and resilience: a heritage that continues to define and inspire Australian leatherwork.

Site photography by Noel McLaughlin

James. B. Young is a shoemaker and outfitter crafting bespoke shoes and made to order handbags and fine leather goods. Based in Mparntwe Alice Springs, James pairs his uniquely Australian sensibility with a european tradition of bespoke shoemaking and fine leatherwork, employing the finest materials to produce limited numbers of pieces that will last you a lifetime.

Descended from a long line of shoemakers, he employs the methodical processes and hand skills traditionally associated with cordwainers and saddlemakers to a suite of contemporary products and services. His work responds to the landscape of his desert home and is given form by the materials and traditions of the central desert in outback Australia.

His bespoke and made-to-order services are a personal exchange lasting well beyond the point of sale. All work is guaranteed and welcomed back when the time for repair and refurbishment presents.

The current list for shoes is closed. Please contact James if you wish to be notified of the next opening. Limited edition handbags, briefcases, wallets and belts are offered on a made to order basis.