Care about looking good? Top your gotta-have-it list with NE-made bespoke shoes, a go-anywhere journal, and a handsome apron.
Shoes by Daphne Board. Photo by Izzy Berdan
Get Your Kicks
What is it: Custom, handmade lace-up dress boot, size variable. Price: $1,200–$1,300.
Who makes it: Daphne Board (pictured in top image) in Holyoke, Massachusetts. At this one-woman shop, Board uses a wide range of leathers (from kangaroo to kidskin) in a rainbow of colors, so she can craft the shoes of your dreams. “There are some shoemakers who have a specific line of styles, and I’ve never tried to limit myself to that, which is good and bad,” she says. “I spend a lot more time on things because I generally say yes to people when they ask, ‘Can you do this?’”
Why we love it: The beauty of these shoes is more than laces-deep. Board is a certified pedorthist, so your pair is custom designed to perfectly fit your feet. What could be better?
Journal cover by American Bench Craft. Photo by Izzy Berdan
Take Note(s)
What is it: The Hemingway Journal, 3.5 × 6 in. Price: $94.
Who makes it: Chris and Jason Angelini, cofounders of American Bench Craft in Reading, Massachusetts. Tired of wallets that fall apart, they make their goods using single pieces of full-grain leather, held together with rivets instead of glue or stitching. “Our products are made the way they were years and years ago, when it was almost a competition to see who could put out a better, longer-lasting item,” says Chris.
Why we love it: With a clean, classic look that’ll never go out of style, this built-to-last journal cover will accompany you on a lifetime of adventures.
Aprons by Linny Kenney. Photo by Izzy Berdan
Work It
What is it: The Lumberjack Apron, 21 × 33 in. (sans straps). Price: $350.
Who makes it: Linny Kenney, owner of Linny Kenney Leather in Littleton, New Hampshire. “The aprons are typically sold to chefs,” says Kenney. “My fiancé wears his when he’s doing carpentry work, though, and I wear mine when I’m painting and staining leather. This new design has a toolholder—a riveted strip of leather—that various things can clip on to.”
Why we love it: This sexy apron, made with eco-friendly, vegetable-tanned leather, will make you want to get busy.
