June 6th, 2017
Sometime around 200 years ago one of my ancestors founded his tannery in a little village in the southwest part of Hungary. Those were perfectly different times for leather crafts. I am not talking…
December 12th, 2015
We had the pleasure of speaking with Geoff and Valerie Franklin, a husband and wife team that designs and manufacturers leather and wood…
November 19th, 2015
Park Avenue International is a family-owned leather handbag, accessory and trim manufacturer on the edge of New York’s historic Garment District. Thirty years ago, their street was lined…
October 30th, 2015
Lauren Cecchi began her adventure as a designer and entrepreneur at a young age. Cecchi’s namesake brand, Lauren Cecchi New York, launched in 2014 to remind women that every day deserves a…
September 18th, 2015
Supple or structured, dyed or uncorrected – no matter the result, leather is our favorite fall fabric. From decor to accessories to…
September 4th, 2015
It’s the start of a long weekend, and we’ve got games on the brain. Card games, board games, drinking games (you know, responsible ones…) – you name it, we’re up for it. Think rounds of…
August 11th, 2015
Sure, there’s a natural inclination to think of Bruce Springsteen (hey, Boss) when we say ‘Made in America’. You know –…
July 30th, 2015
Honing your aesthetic isn’t always shaped by what you learn at school. Whether it’s a creative retreat, a productive routine or…
July 15th, 2015
Hands-free handbags? You betcha. The 21st century take on fanny packs – that 90s staple that’s still the most secure way to tote…
May 14th, 2015
One year ago, I shared some lessons I learned while going from design to sample. In this article, I want to take it a step further and…
April 24th, 2015
Designing footwear unlike other products has its limitations. It must work for your feet (Unless you’re making an art statement). At the beginning of every footwear project I carry out, I…
April 10th, 2015
Starting a handcrafted goods business is a lot of fun, and can also bring a lot of…
March 12th, 2015
Now that we’ve explained the basics of the leather process, it’s time to delve into…
February 26th, 2015
We are excited to partner with Maker’s Row to bring you this four-part series. Over the…
February 16th, 2015
Before I’m a designer, I’m an artisan in love with the traditions, heritage, tools and artistry of a craft that goes back centuries. In many ways, Slightly Alabama’s designs are a…
January 8th, 2015
Charles James once said: “All creative work begins by doing something with the hands. Creation is simply a problem and design is the…
December 30th, 2014
Every New Years, people all over the country decide that it’s time to make a change in their lives; be healthier, stop bad habits, spend…
October 5th, 2014
This is the story of how far I’d go to carry the same bag for nearly a decade… After the bag I carried daily for six years began…
November 7th, 2013
I used to own a leather accessories line with Matthew, and we would source locally produced leather from various distributors, but I’ve always wanted to VISIT a tannery, where the leather gets…
September 27th, 2013
Located in Long Island City, Portchester USA is a manufacturer of handbags and leather accessories. Last week I made my way from Brooklyn to their manufacturing facility and Kulwant, the owner of…
April 12th, 2013
In a month, I was able find American made leather at a good price, work with a sample maker to create my first two bags, and find a handbag…