Check out American West

Our Newest Vendor, American West Leathergoods

Louise de Kok, owner and designer of American West Leathergoods recalls that the brand started when her late husband, Michiel, bought a hand tooled leather travel doctor's bag in South America 30 years ago.  She was intrigued by the hand tooled craftsmanship and brought to market the first American West Collection in 1986. 

"30 years later, American West specializes in top of the line, elegant, detailed leather goods, each designed with a fresh take on traditional western style. With a goal to continuously offer new and exciting pieces, American West focuses on two things;  fashion and function. Constantly striving to find new and exhilarating designs is what de Kok and her team love to do. Each season, the female owned and operated company, scours the globe to bring their customers the freshest and most sought after textures, colors, and fashion trends. Not only are American West items tooled by hand to create beautiful works of art; they are also functional, and that is what women appreciate and revel.  ”

Every American West bag sold in 2016 includes a commemorative 30th Anniversary hang charm.  They continue to offer fashionable handmade full grain leather accessories ever evolving in function and design.  Each American West product is individually hand tooled , creating a beautiful work of art.  "The hand-tooling is done on vegetable-tanned leather by descendants of the Guarani tribe in South America.  “Every tooler has his own style, and they do it extremely fast!” marvels de Kok of the work that’s conducted at two woman-owned factories in South America."                                                                             

Information for this blog was obtained from American West Leathergoods Facebook page and website, and Cowgirl Magazine Blog from April 8, 2016.