Roberta Weissburg Leathers began very humbly in my apartment in Pittsburgh's Shadyside neighborhood after I left graduate school in 1979. I decided that I wouldn't, after all, become a professor of English Literature, as tenured employment was becoming very difficult to expect. Happily for me, this choice has been an excellent one, providing my staff and me with an exciting business and a daily opportunity to enrich our lives in many ways.

I joined a group of three other women artists in December 1980, and we formed a working studio and gallery on East Carson Street in Pittsburgh's South Side, at the beginning of the resurgence of this great neighborhood. In 1984 I purchased a building in which to live and work, and became involved in the redevelopment of the neighborhood. While building my business, I served for 16 years on the board of directors and two years as president of South Side Local Development Company. My commitment to the neighborhood continues as a resident and volunteer for various local projects.

In 1991, I opened on Walnut Street, bringing me back to the Shadyside neighborhood. Our space was all of 200 square feet, but this exposure afforded us a great boost to business. We moved into a larger space next door in 1999, and in 2008 we finally restored the two storefronts into one larger boutique.

Our upstairs workshop, ably run by the talented Emma White for more than 25 years, offers expert leather services to the community. For over 39 years we have sought to bring you the most interesting selection of fine leather goods from the market and we continue to create finely crafted custom designed leathers. We are proudly Pittsburgh's only Brighton Heart store with the distinction of carrying this wonderful company's full line of accessories. Our stores continuously showcase beautiful leather, shearling and fur outerwear which you won't find anywhere else and new, exciting accessory brands such as Hammitt Handbags, Uno de 50, and Mariana Jewelry from around the world. We invite you to shop here online, and to visit Shadyside to "TRY IT ON"!