Well, Howdy! An Introduction to Grit Mercantile
About Us
Hello there! We are Amanda and Garret Willis, the husband-and-wife team of Grit Mercantile. As owners and makers, we design and handcraft leather goods, digital patterns, templates, and more in our Central Texas studio.
Why We Started
In 2020, we started Grit Mercantile to solve Garret's frustration of finding a quality, long-lasting wallet, making various wallet models. Soon, the rest of the family (Amanda and Madeleine) took an active part in developing his hobby into a shared business. An Etsy shop was established, and then bags and small gifts were added. Before long, Grit Mercantile expanded, taking over the rest of the room.
Read more of our story here.
Our Mission and Values
In search of making leather goods a cut above the rest, we wanted to balance distinct, straightforward function with classic beauty. This principle guides our design and production approach as we create products that are beautiful, functional, and meant to last.
With our business name, we value passion through perseverance (Grit) and a sustainable business model to support growth (Mercantile). Furthermore, we honor our heritage by naming our products after family members and friends to recognize their grit and legacy.
Read the stories behind our names here.
Where We Are Now
Now, with 5 years under our belts, we have expanded in more ways than we dreamed of in 2020. Our official website, gritmercantile.com, launched in Fall 2023. Soon after, we began attending markets across the Greater Austin and Dallas/Fort Worth areas, opening new opportunities we never saw coming.
What's more, leatherworkers, sewers, and crafters in nearly 40 countries have used our digital patterns and acrylic tools to create their own artwork. As we've grown, our tools have grown with us, allowing us to expand production and serve other businesses.
As we reflect together, we celebrate the half decade of progress and thank all who have made this possible.
Here's to 5 years and many more.
Written by Madeleine Willis