Recycled leather can be used to make 'brand new' leather goods.  In the first example below I dismantled, cleaned and treated the lizard leather of an old unwanted handbag.  I then bonded it to high quality new calf leather and used it to make a new strap and matching card wallet to give a new lease of life to a vintage gold watch.  See the first 7 pictures below to follow the transformation.

 

I have some panels of crocodile leather reclaimed in the same way which are suitable for making small leather goods.

 

The other approach is to use leather with a significant patina and do everything possible to retain this patina.  This is the leather equivalent of buying new jeans full of fraying holes.  Definitely Marmite!  People love it or hate it and you don't have to ask which category I fall into.

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In the photo below of a minimalist card wallet I used the leather from a worn out half-century old pencil case to make a  wallet.  Ink spots and all.

 

For the watch box, below, I have reimagined an old military ammunition pouch into a watch box with a calf leather hinge and lining.  Holes from previous hardware and erratic stitch lines have been deliberately retained.

 

If you have old leather goods that you would like me to use to make something new, with or without heavy patination,
I would be happy to discuss options.