Skip to main content

The Portland Leather Renaissance

Portland Leather
Image used with permission by copyright holder
Portland’s come a long way from its original days as a gritty, old frontier/port town with a predilection for logging. Hell, Portland’s changed a lot since its heyday as the epicenter of all things good and grungy about the 1990s; this despite that TV show Portlandia and the concept of retro-cool.

Since start of the 21st century, you’ve probably heard about Portland the beer mecca, Portland the coffee capitol,  Portland the foodie fave and Portland the hipster haven; all true. And while you still might hear Temple of the Dog on the radio at a food truck that serves Transylvanian food or find flannel sold in farm-to-table coffee shops, Portland’s latest, newest, fck-yeah export falls squarely in the classic and timeless category: Leather.

That’s right. Portland leather is fck-yea. And, it’s got heritage, all starting way back in those 1930s depression days with Danner, who became known for their high-quality, sht kicking leather boots. Perfect for timber town. Known just as much for their rugged style as they are for their quality construction and steely sturdiness, they’re experiencing a renaissance these days; just as likely be found in true-blue outdoors stores as inside style-minded men’s boutiques. Kinda like Red Wings, ten years ago. They make a lot of models, but we say start with the Stumptown Collection—throwback, but not so much to be rendered a costume, with the Mountain Light Overton, Vertigo and Tramline being the models that most easily translate from the field into everyday wear.

The creative entrepreneurial spirit of modern day Portland has expanded upon the house which Danner built, giving an artisanal edge to all imaginable products that can be crafted from cowhide. Like things for beer or your bike (or both at the same time), a specialty of Walnut Studio which is really just a dude, Geoffrey Franklin and his wife Valerie who call their home garage their studio. We are obsessed with their handmade equestrian grade leather beer carriers, which come in a six-pack 12 oz. bottle size or a four-pack 22 oz. version. Another small-scale operation doing some big things is Wood & Faulk, or really a guy named Matt Pierce, whose leather accessories are made with the outdoorsman in mind, like a hand crafted English bridle leather camp stool, Horween leather wallets and cordovan watch straps.

On a slightly larger scale, Tanner Goods, started in 2005 is a collective of leather craftsmen inspired by legendary Washington saddle maker L.P. Streifel. Each piece is made by hand using tools that date back to the early 20th century and are based on a philosophy of less is more. Meaning, perfect leather belts, gloves and wallets and even some handsome collars and leashes for your four legged friends.

Orox Leather is a family based company that uses time-tested, heritage techniques from Oaxaca, Mexico (the name is a compression of Or for Oregon and Ox for Oxaca, where the Martinez family traces their ancestry). For years they were only available at Portland’s weekly outdoor market, but after growing a cult following in 2012, they opened an online shop and brick and mortar store in the city’s old town section, featuring an open studio where you watch the Martinez’s hand make everything sold in the store. A handsome mixed canvas and leather pannier bag, a leather bike handle and a sturdy tool roll up that attaches to bikes are our favorites.

The new Portland leather industry has something for just about everyone even leather jackets, which, when you think about it, have to be made to last. The one thing that hasn’t changed in Portland though the years: It rains. A lot.

Matt Bell
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Matt Bell is a travel and grooming writer. He's endured Thai face slapping massages, swam in a cage with crocodiles and…
All new Rolex 1908 men’s watch leans into timeless Rolex styling and we can’t get enough of it
You won't stop staring at it, but that has nothing to do with what time it is
The Rolex Perpetual 1908

The world’s most desirable watch brand, Rolex, is paying homage to its long and storied history with a new series of watches. The new Rolex watch takes inspiration from the vintage timepieces that made the luxury brand what it is today. So expect an almost impossibly slim profile, smaller dimensions than modern men’s watches, and large numbers. Another nice vintage touch is the lack of a central seconds hand, with a dedicated sub-dial being used instead.

Rolex’s main inspiration when creating the Perpetual 1908 is the original Oyster Perpetual from 1931. While its 39mm diameter may be a little more petit than the 45+ mm dive watches that have been in vogue over the last few decades, it’s actually somewhat of a compromise. Many classic men’s watches are rocking 34mm or 36mm cases.

Read more
We found those iconic Deion Sanders sunglasses, and they’re only $67
Look like Prime, stay winnin' like Prime
Deion Sanders wearing Blenders

There are a lot of things that Deion Sanders is good at: baseball, football, and coaching the latter, for instance. But one that he is excelling at off the field is promotion. Sure, he is a name and a face, and it seems like it would be easy. But when you develop your own sunglasses with a brand like Blenders, you feel the need to promote harder than usual. And now, you can snatch up a pair of these viral sunglasses yourself but don't expect them to show up on your doorstep as fast as they went viral.

Creating a viral sensation
Before his Colorado football team took the field and triumphed over rival Colorado State in a double overtime victory, his entire team showed out with their own pair of Prime 21s, the new collaboration between "Neon" Deion and Blenders sunglasses. Of course, that is never enough, as he gifted big names in sports like Stephen A. Smith (sports TV host) and Dwayne Johnson (former wrestler and football monster himself) a pair of their own to promote to their giant followings. Not to mention, another commentator called him out before the game for wearing glasses in interviews. We're not saying it was orchestrated, but the timing was perfect.

Read more
ZENITH Watches DEFY Extreme Carl Cox edition lands September 25, limited to 100 watches, priced at $30,100
There are only 100 pieces AND you get to meet Carl Cox
ZENITH Defy Extreme Carl Cox watch

Luxury watch enthusiasts, mark your calendars! ZENITH is set to release a horological marvel that's bound to send ripples through the world of timekeeping. The DEFY Extreme Carl Cox edition from ZENITH watches, a limited masterpiece, is slated to land on September 25. With only 100 pieces available and priced at a sumptuous $30,100, this timepiece is a tribute to both precision and fashionable aesthetics.
A fusion of craftsmanship: The ZENITH DEFY Extreme Carl Cox Edition
ZENITH's collaboration with Carl Cox, an ambassador for the brand, has given birth to an extraordinary creation. At the heart of this men's watch beats the most rugged and fastest 1/100th of a second chronograph, setting the tempo for accuracy that is second to none. But this watch is not just about attention to detail; it's also a nod to Carl Cox's musical heritage. The design takes cues from his favorite set of turntables, seamlessly blending the worlds of horology and music. The chronograph sub-counters have fine circular ridges that look like vinyl records, and the one at 9 o’clock has a Carl Cox logo on it. The number of sub-counters, three, also reflects Cox’s pioneering three-deck DJing style.

The ZENITH DEFY Extreme Carl Cox edition is a stunning watch that combines the best of both worlds: a classic design with a modern twist. This watch features a 45mm matte microblasted stainless steel and yellow gold case, with a 12-sided yellow gold insert under the bezel and crown guards. This blend of materials exudes a minimalistic and retro-futuristic look; it's a visual masterpiece that will undoubtedly turn heads. The case is water-resistant to 200m and has a screw-down crown for added security. The dial is open-worked, revealing the intricate workings of the El Primero 9004 in-house calibre, a chronometer-certified movement that boasts a dual regulating organ, one for timekeeping and one for the chronograph.

Read more