Tooling is the process of engraving or embellishing designs on leather. Tooling leather on the other hand is the leather that we use to make those beautiful designs. Tooling leather is generally vegetable-tanned leather. Vegetable tanning can make leather soft and easy to work with.

Some of the most common tools used in leather tooling are a marble slab, modeling spoon, bevelers, stamps, and swivel knives. These tools can be used in various ways and often in tandem to create intricate, creative designs on bags, saddles, belts, wallets, holsters and more. Tooled leather is usually expensive due to its creative designs.