Made in Chicago | Handcrafted Leather Goods
Handcrafted in Chicago, Next to Horween®
Ashland Leather is handcrafted in Chicago, six-tenths of a mile from the Horween® tannery. The leather is tanned here. The goods are built here. That short distance is the point.
Local proof
Chicago is not a slogan on a hangtag for us. Horween® has been on the North Side since 1905. Our shop sits close enough that the tannery is part of how we work, not a supplier overseas. When we say heritage leathergoods, handcrafted in Chicago, we mean the cut and the stitch happen in this city.
From tannery to shop
Horween® tans Shell Cordovan, Chromexcel®, Dublin, Latigo, Cypress, and more in Chicago. We take that leather into our shop, cut patterns for wallets, belts, briefcases, and bags, and finish them for everyday carry. Same metro. Same weather. Same expectations for how leather should age.
What you can buy that is made here
Browse men’s wallets, leather belts, briefcases, sling bags, and bags. For the broader country claim and how we talk about Made in USA, see Made in USA.
Chicago-made leather belts
Our belts are cut and finished in the Chicago workshop from Horween® leather tanned nearby. Shop leather belts or compare leathers and find your belt size.
Frequently asked questions
Where in Chicago are Ashland goods made?
In our Chicago workshop at 2349 North Elston Court. Leather comes from Horween®, also in Chicago, about six-tenths of a mile from the shop.
Why does proximity to Horween® matter?
Short supply lines keep quality tight. We specify leather from a tannery we can visit, in the same city where we build.
Is “handcrafted in Chicago” the same as handmade?
We have expert artisans that handcraft everything in our shop. We carefully curate and select leathers from the tannery because we are leather experts and we know exactly how they will translate into every pattern piece of everything we craft. Then we take that leather into our shop and cut all the pattern pieces. We stamp, we sew, we do hand finishing, and then we fulfill everything from our shop in Chicago at the same address (2349 North Elston Court).
Can I visit?
We are happy to accommodate people visiting our shop and experiencing the leather goods for themselves in person, but we request that they schedule a time with us by emailing info@ashlandleather.com.
Where do I start if I want a Chicago-made wallet or bag?
Men’s wallets and bags are the main catalogs; Made in USA covers the full origin story.