About Us

My love for leather started at a fairly young age.  When I was in high school a friend of mine went to the big city and purchased a leather jacket from a quality store.  This jacket came from a quality name.  This was not a mass marketed item from a big box store.  It was a leather store that focused on jackets and coats with a few other items too.  My friend came to class one day with this brand new leather jacket on.  He let me try it on.  The love affair began.  The sounds and smells from leather are addicting.

I instantly fell in love with this full and top grain leather.  I love the aniline and semi-aniline finishes.  It allows the true character and brilliance of the leather to shine.  I just was not interested in genuine, split, suede or bonded leather.  I instantly recognized the quality in the full and top grain leathers.  Full and top grain are the toughest part of that hide.  And the full grain is what gives you the character.

I had to have my own.  But I had to save for quite a while to be able to purchase one.  These were very expensive jackets.  This was almost 30 years ago and then they were about $250.  So after a year or so I had saved enough money.  I also made the trip to the big city.  It was a 2 1/2 hour trip, one way.  I did not care.  I would own one.  Not like my friend's but also not different.  A quality item with no elastic waste or cuff bands.  And top quality hardware.  It had a satin like lining but that was the only fabric used.  I loved it too.

Shortly after that I purchased a full grain leather checkbook cover.  And from there it pretty much was engrained and entrenched in me, this leather addiction.  I grew rather fond of leather bags and cases.  And again I did not like the lesser quality genuine leathers like split, suede and definitely not bonded leather.  So I recognized the quality of leather vs. cloth and fabrics.  Don't get me wrong, you will not see me wearing a pair of leather pants.  Not my thing.  But I do love a full or top grain leather brief case with quality hardware.

I was so enamored by leather that for a while, I only watched the Indiana Jones films to admire the jackets!  I also purchased one of those from the maker that claims he made them for the film.  I also just love Indiana Jones, jackets aside.  That is for another story.  

Growing up in the Midwest has provided me with the tools necessary to design, engineer and create these bespoke leather items.  My passion for leather is passed on as I breathe life into an item. 

You will not see me build anything with a zipper.  That is the quickest way to hardware failure.  It yields a lesser quality item.  I use ONLY full and top grain leathers.  I use ONLY the most durable hardware I can find, usually solid stainless steel or solid brass.

This philosophy promises to add expense to your item.  No doubt about it.  And I am happy it does because you can buy it with confidence.  I hope you enjoy it as much as I enjoyed creating it.