Hedley Studios and George Cleverley Create Unique Bentley Blower Jnr Using 239-Year-Old Leather
Hedley Studios, creators of luxury handcrafted electric reinterpretations of iconic vintage cars, has partnered with London’s renowned bespoke shoemaker, George Cleverley, to create a one-of-a-kind Bentley Blower Jnr. The unique commission will debut this month at a private event in Scotland, bringing together two icons of British luxury united by their commitment to craftsmanship, tradition and exclusivity.
The collaboration brings together two custodians of British craft; each committed to harnessing traditional techniques in new ways. For both Hedley Studios and George Cleverley, it represents a celebration of artistry, heritage and the enduring value of handmade excellence.
Salvaged 18th-Century leather with royal provenance
At the heart of the collaboration is a material as storied as the Blower itself: Russian reindeer leather recovered from the Metta Catharina shipwreck of 1786. The brigantine, bound from St. Petersburg to Genoa with a cargo of hemp and hides, was driven onto the seabed of Plymouth Sound during a violent winter storm. Though the crew escaped, the ship and its cargo were lost and, for nearly 200 years, forgotten.
In 1973, a group of local divers rediscovered the wreck and were astonished to find bundles of hides still intact beneath layers of cold black mud. Protected from seawater and air, the leather had survived in remarkable condition. Known historically as “Russia leather”, these hides had been tanned using centuries-old methods with willow bark and birch oil, giving them their distinctive cross-hatched grain, deep mahogany hue and unmistakable sweet aroma. In the 18th century it was regarded as the finest leather in the world: supple, durable, water resistant and naturally insect repellent. So closely guarded were its methods that European tanneries even sent spies to St. Petersburg in a failed attempt to uncover the secrets of its production.
The Prince of Wales, now King Charles III, granted permission for salvage of the wreck, and George Cleverley secured a small portion of hides from the haul, which remain in private reserve to this day. Never advertised, they are released only rarely for the most exclusive commissions, including shoes made for King Charles himself, which he still wears today.
For this Bentley Blower Jnr by Hedley Studios and George Cleverley, the historic reindeer hide is used sparingly on the hand-stitched steering wheel and seatbelt covers, offering a subtle but profound link between Britain’s shoemaking heritage, royal provenance and Bentley’s celebrated craftsmanship. The story of the car is one of true collaboration — from the meticulous hand-stitching carried out in George Cleverley’s Old Bond Street atelier, to the careful assembly of every component at Hedley Studios’ home in Bicester. Given the incredibly limited supply of this 18th-century leather, this Blower Jnr will remain a 1 of 1 creation, never to be repeated.
Bespoke detailing throughout
This special Bentley Blower Jnr, created in collaboration with George Cleverley, is distinguished by a suite of details chosen to reflect the shoemaker’s dedication to craftsmanship. Among them are custom treadplates and hand-stitched leather accents, crafted from Tuscany’s finest full-grain hides, which add both tactility and refinement to the cabin.
The dashboard is finished in Koa, a rare Hawaiian hardwood historically used in surfboards and prized for its strength and striking grain pattern, bringing a warm, organic counterpoint to the car’s engineering. A bespoke nameplate reading “GC 1 of 1” underlines the car’s singular status, while the exterior is presented in Claret paintwork with a Mulberry Everflex finish, chosen to harmonise with the rich interior materials.
The team at George Cleverley also selected the number 86 on the front grille for this commission, which is a subtle nod to the year 1786 when the reindeer hides were first lost to the sea.
Each element has been carefully selected in collaboration with George Cleverley, ensuring that the Blower Jnr embodies the same artistry, refinement and tradition that defines the shoemaker’s most celebrated creations.
Technical underpinnings & performance
Like every Bentley Blower Jnr, this collaboration with George Cleverley blends heritage design with modern engineering. At its heart sits a 15 kW electric motor, powered by a 10.8 kWh battery which provides a range of approximately 65 miles (105 km) and can be recharged in three to five hours depending on the charging setup.
Crucially, the model is fully road legal, classified as an L7e quadricycle in the UK and EU and as an LSV in the USA, ensuring that its owners can enjoy it not just as a collector’s piece but as a driveable celebration of Bentley’s history.
Ben Hedley, Founder and CEO of Hedley Studios, commented: "The Blower Jnr has always been about reimagining Bentley’s most iconic racing car in a way that makes it both usable and evocative. This collaboration with George Cleverley has taken that philosophy to another level.
“Seeing the unique craftsmanship processes at their Old Bond Street workshop first-hand has been extraordinary for all of us at Hedley Studios, and the use of this historic hide with such remarkable history reflects the shared dedication to traditional methods and enduring craftsmanship that unites our two houses. The result is a car that doesn’t just celebrate Bentley’s past, but also showcases the very best of British artisanal skill today."
George Glasgow Jnr., CEO of George Cleverley, said: “This collaboration represents something truly extraordinary - not just the marriage of two British craft traditions, but the use of some of our final remaining pieces of Russian reindeer leather from the Metta Catharina. When we commit this historic material to a project, it must be worthy of its provenance. Working with Hedley Studios to create this one-of-a-kind Blower Jnr felt like the perfect tribute to both Bentley's racing heritage and the remarkable story of these 239-year-old hides. Once this leather is gone, it's gone forever - there will never be another project quite like this.”
For more information on Hedley Studios, please visit: www.hedleystudios.com