The Only Civilian Studio Licensed by the Ministry of Defence to Make Personalised Military Leather Goods
When someone searches for RAF leather gift, Royal Navy wallet personalised, or military retirement gift leather UK, they’re usually looking for something meaningful — something that carries weight, history and pride.
Priestleys is the only civilian leather studio in the UK licensed by the Ministry of Defence to use official military insignia, cap badges and crests on personalised leather goods. It’s a responsibility we don’t take lightly, and one that grew from a very personal story.
How We Became MOD‑Licensed
Our connection to the military began long before the licence. James served as a submariner in the Royal Navy, and over the years we were often asked to create one‑off pieces for colleagues marking promotions, deployments or retirements.
Those early commissions made something clear: people were trying to find personal, handcrafted, high‑quality, hand‑crafted leather gifts that could legally carry official military insignia.
So we applied for the Ministry of Defence licence — a long, detailed process involving security checks, design approvals and strict usage guidelines. When the approval finally came through, we became the only civilian leather studio permitted to use protected MOD badges and crests across the RAF, Royal Navy, Army and specialist units.
It means every piece we make is not only handcrafted, but also official, accurate and fully authorised.
What the Licence Allows Us to Create
The licence covers a wide range of insignia, including:
RAF cap badges and squadron crests
Royal Navy branches, including Submarine Service
Commando Helicopter Force insignia
Army regiments and specialist units
Whether you’re marking a retirement, celebrating a promotion, or looking for a meaningful gift that carries real significance, our MOD‑licensed collection brings together official insignia and thoughtful craftsmanship. Explore the full range of military leather goods or get in touch to discuss a personalised piece made for your regiment, unit or service.
