In a 𝓈𝒽𝓸𝒸𝓀𝒾𝓃𝑔 and deeply emotional revelation, Susie Fletcher, the calm and compassionate leather expert from The Repair Shop, has finally shared the full truth behind her extraordinary life journey—one marked by violence, grief, survival, and an unbreakable devotion to her craft. Behind her gentle voice and steady hands lies a story few ever imagined.

Susie’s path began astonishingly early. At just 14 years old, while most teenagers were still finding themselves, she was already apprenticing as a saddle maker—entering a harsh, male-dominated world that offered little mercy to young women. Raised by fiercely resourceful parents who believed nothing should ever be wasted, Susie learned early that repair was not just a skill, but a philosophy of life.

Under the guidance of renowned saddle maker Ken Langford, she absorbed the ancient language of leather—how it stretches, breaks, remembers, and heals. Horses were her refuge, leather her voice. By her late teens, she was already exceptional, quietly earning respect in an industry that rarely gave it freely.

Her life took a dramatic turn when she moved to Boulder, Colorado, where her leatherworking business began to thrive. On the surface, success followed. But behind closed doors, Susie was trapped in a violent and emotionally devastating marriage. Her husband, Rob, was unpredictable and aggressive, leaving wounds that no one could see. For years, Susie endured in silence—pouring her pain into her work, stitching survival into every seam.

Leather became her lifeline.

Each repair, each restoration, was an act of resistance. Clients praised her precision, unaware that every flawless finish masked a woman fighting to stay whole. Her reputation grew, but so did her isolation.

Then, in 2013, tragedy struck again.

Rob died of pancreatic cancer, leaving Susie overwhelmed by a storm of conflicting emotions—grief, relief, guilt, and unresolved trauma. The loss shattered what little stability remained, forcing her to confront not only widowhood, but the emotional wreckage of years spent in fear.

Broken and searching for peace, Susie returned to the UK, unsure of what remained for her. It was during this fragile period that fate intervened.

She discovered The Repair Shop.

A quiet show. Gentle hands. Broken objects given new life.

Encouraged by her brother Steve Fletcher, already a respected figure on the programme, Susie hesitated. Television meant exposure. Vulnerability. Risk. But she took the leap—and everything changed.

From her very first appearance, Susie captivated audiences.

Her calm presence, empathetic listening, and almost spiritual connection to leather transformed the show. Viewers didn’t just watch objects being repaired—they watched a woman rebuilding herself. Every stitch carried history. Every restoration mirrored her own recovery.

Without ever raising her voice, Susie became one of the emotional anchors of The Repair Shop—a living testament to resilience. She proved that craftsmanship can heal not only objects, but people.

Today, Susie Fletcher stands as more than a television favorite.

She is an author, a mentor, a survivor. Through her book The Sun Over the Mountains and her public appearances, she speaks honestly about abuse, loss, and the long road back to self-worth. She doesn’t romanticize pain—but she proves it doesn’t have to define the ending.

Susie Fletcher’s story is not just about leatherworking.

It’s about endurance.
About finding light after years of darkness.
About discovering that even the most damaged things—people included—can be restored with patience, skill, and compassion.

Her journey reminds us all:
New beginnings don’t come after hardship. They rise directly from it.