Portland Leather Goods products are made at the company’s own workshop in Leon, Mexico, despite the brand’s Portland, Oregon name.
The brand is known for its full grain leather totes, crossbody bags, and wallets sold directly to consumers online.
Portland Leather Goods is a privately held company founded by Curtis Matsko, who still leads the business as CEO from its Portland, Oregon headquarters.
Knowing where Portland Leather Goods is made helps shoppers understand how a Portland based brand ended up manufacturing everything in Mexico.
This article covers the brand’s manufacturing history, its current production facility, and how it compares with other leather handbag brands.
So let’s get started.
Table of Contents
Who Makes Portland Leather Goods?
Portland Leather Goods designs and manufactures its own products through a company operated workshop rather than outsourcing to unrelated third party factories.
The company was founded in 2015 by artist Curtis Matsko, who began by making a single leather journal before growing the business into a full product line.
Portland Leather Goods remains privately held, with Matsko still serving as CEO and the company still headquartered in Portland, Oregon.
Where Is Portland Leather Goods Made?
Products are handmade at the company’s own workshop, called The Studio, in Leon, Mexico.
Leon is known as the leather capital of Mexico, giving Portland Leather Goods access to experienced artisans and nearby tanneries.
The company sources its leather hides from the US beef industry before shipping them to Mexico for tanning and finished production.
Portland Leather Goods says it maintains hands on oversight of The Studio to keep quality control close to the founder rather than working with an anonymous overseas contractor.
Was Portland Leather Goods Ever Made in Oregon?
Yes. For roughly the company’s first five years, Portland Leather Goods products were handcrafted by a team working in Portland, Oregon.
The COVID-19 pandemic pushed founder Curtis Matsko to open a manufacturing facility in Leon, Mexico, where skilled leather artisans had recently become available.
The company has not returned production to Oregon, and all current bags and accessories are made at the Mexico workshop.
Portland Leather Goods vs Coach: How Do Their Supply Chains Compare?
Portland Leather Goods and Coach both sell leather handbags, but their business models and supply chains differ substantially.
Coach, owned by Tapestry, relies on a large network of contract manufacturers spread across several Asian countries.
Portland Leather Goods instead concentrates production at a single company operated workshop in Mexico, giving it closer oversight over a smaller manufacturing footprint.
Is Portland Leather Goods Still Privately Owned?
Yes. Portland Leather Goods remains privately owned and has not been acquired by a larger fashion or retail conglomerate.
The company has grown from a one car garage operation into a business with over 100 million dollars in reported sales and hundreds of thousands of customer reviews.
For more on how other leather handbag brands source their materials, see Where Are Coach Bags Made.
Frequently Asked Questions About Where Portland Leather Goods Is Made
Is Portland Leather Goods made in the USA?
No. Portland Leather Goods products are made at the company’s workshop in Leon, Mexico. The leather hides themselves are sourced from US cattle.
Where is Portland Leather Goods made now?
Portland Leather Goods is made at the company’s own workshop, The Studio, in Leon, Mexico.
Who owns Portland Leather Goods?
Portland Leather Goods is privately owned by founder Curtis Matsko, who continues to serve as the company’s CEO.
Why did Portland Leather Goods move production to Mexico?
The company moved production to Leon, Mexico during the COVID-19 pandemic to access skilled leather artisans and scale up manufacturing.
I am Jack Neel, a mechanical engineer, researcher, and writer. I created this website to share my knowledge about different brands and products with you. I research the manufacturers behind the brands and provide you with the information you need to make smart buying decisions.