Ashland Leathergoods
Ashland Leather Co. was created by two long-time tannery workers in Chicago, Dan Cordova and Phil Kalas. Both have worked in tanneries for a majority of their professional careers and developed a great passion and love for leather. "At Horween Leather in Chicago we only make the 'sheets' of leather. I loved to look at, feel, and smell all of the different and amazing leathers we made but never got to use them! I decided to make myself a wallet." explains Phil Kalas. Dan made a brown Chromexcel purse for his wife on their anniversary and Phil made himself the original Fat Herbie wallet from shell cordovan splits. Today, the Ashland guys still work at the famous Horween Leather tannery during the day and make themselves (and others!) wallets and other small leather goods with the help of leatherworker Laura Roselle.