Hasta La Ideas

An inside look at Portland, OR’s heritage-inspired accessories workshop and new retail outpost

Hailing from the heart of the Great Northwest, Portland, OR’s Tanner Goods is perfectly positioned to produce accessories rugged enough for a true outdoorsman but with looks good enough for city streets. To best showcase their expanding line of handmade leather belts, wallets, lanyards and canvas bags the label recently opened the doors to their first stand-alone retail store in downtown Portland.

I recently swung through, feeling right at home after one step inside the quaint space. From bags and belts to collaborations with fellow Oregonians Pendleton and Danner boots, all housed in the industrial-design interior, we were encouraged to touch and feel the quality in each piece. Local artisans and students can even purchase cut-rate leftovers by the pound from heavy bins of leather scraps.

After seeing the finished products, I ran across town to the workshop where they handcraft each and every piece that bares the hand stamped Tanner Goods insignia. There a small team of craftsman precisely cuts, tans, stitches and stamps the most recent batch of goods.

Coming as no surprise, Tanner uses only the finest domestically-sourced materials for their products—English Bridle American leather and heavyweight 10-ounce waxed canvas (from the sole remaining textile mill in America that still produces the specific fabric) to be exact. This emphasis on material quality ensures that Tanner products will last many years to come and only grow better looking with age.

Tanner’s position as a driving factor in the domestic heritage revival wasn’t earned easily, but the superb attention to detail in each and every stitch is sure keep them there. Check the gallery for more images of the workshop and go to Tanner online to view products and see a complete list of Tanner stockists.