What Pingree Detroit does

Pingree Detroit (legal entity: Pingree Mfg L3C) is a Detroit-based worker-owned cooperative founded in 2015 by Jarret Schlaff that handcrafts footwear, bags, wallets, accessories, home goods, and pet products from upcycled automotive leather, seatbelts, and airbag materials sourced from the Detroit auto industry. The company's core technology is artisanal leather transformation combined with circular-economy material sourcing — it has diverted over 60,000 lbs of automotive leather from landfills since 2015 and achieved zero-waste status in 2024. Flagship products include The Mayor sneakers (Detroit's first locally-made sneaker, capped at ~10 pairs/month, priced at $400 with Vibram ecostep recycled soles), The Eastsiders, Strider Chukka boots, the Adeline Lux convertible bag, and the 313 Shopper Tote. The business model centers on a 77% profit-sharing cooperative structure that pays living wages to U.S. veterans and Detroiters, with each product shipped with a maker card identifying its creator under the #KnowYourMaker program.

Revenue is generated primarily through direct-to-consumer e-commerce on its owned Shopify storefront, supplemented by a flagship retail store in The District Detroit (opened Nov 11, 2025, next to the Fox Theatre), weekend pop-ups at Rustbelt Market in Ferndale and Eastern Market Detroit (Summer 2026), and 15+ wholesale partner retailers across Detroit, Michigan, and Chicago. Pricing spans from $5/lb DIY leather scraps and $18 keychains up to $400 premium handmade sneakers, with gift cards in $10–$500 denominations and a lifetime guarantee on all products. Adjacent revenue streams include a Materials Library partnership with Hagerty supplying upcycled leather to DIY crafters and small businesses. The company offsets 110% of its carbon footprint and holds multiple sustainability and veteran-employment certifications, including MVAA Veteran Friendly Employer (Silver, 2023) and Michigan Recycling Coalition Award of Excellence (2024).

Customer concentration is diffuse across conscious consumers, pet owners, gift shoppers, and crafters/small businesses, with no anchor enterprise accounts. Distribution is domestic U.S. (Michigan, Illinois) with Canada listed as a served market. The cooperative is privately held with one disclosed funding round of $123,249 (Nov 2024); investors are undisclosed and no parent company exists. Awards include four Gingras Global Social Impact Awards (2017, 2018, 2019, 2024), Best Shoe Store in Michigan (Community Choice, 2024), and founder recognition via ABC/WXYZ 20/20 Detroit Person of the Week (2017) and Oakland University 10 Under 10 Alumni Award (2020).

Name

Pingree Detroit

Legal name

Pingree Mfg L3C

Website

https://pingreedetroit.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Pingree Detroit is a Detroit-based worker-owned cooperative that handcrafts footwear, bags, wallets, accessories, home goods, and pet products from upcycled automotive leather, employing U.S. veterans and Detroiters under a 77% profit-sharing model.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Handmade Leather Goods & Footwear

NAICS

Sporting Goods Retailers (45911), Sporting and Recreational Goods and Supplies Merchant Wholesalers (423910)

akta.pro primary industry

Sporting Goods & Outdoor Inventory-led Online Retailers (CRAFADAJ)

Keywords

• Handmade leather goods
• Upcycled automotive leather
• Sustainable footwear
• Handcrafted bags accessories
• Worker-owned cooperative

Headquarters

HQ city

Detroit

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Product Sales: Direct sales of handcrafted leather goods including footwear (The Mayor sneakers, Eastsiders, Strider boots), bags (totes, crossbody, clutches), wallets, accessories (keychains, luggage tags, journals), home goods (coasters, valet trays, mugs), pet products (leashes, collars, ties), and DIY leather remnants. Products sold as one-time purchases with some made-to-order items requiring 2-4 weeks lead time.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Pingree Detroit is a worker-owned cooperative that handcrafts footwear, bags, wallets, pet accessories, home goods, and hats from upcycled automotive leather (Nappa, seatbelts, airbag materials) sourced from the Detroit auto industry. Products are made-to-order in Detroit by U.S. Veterans and Detroiters, with each item tagged via a #KnowYourMaker card identifying its creator, and the company shares 77% of profits with worker-owners.

Product overview

Pingree Detroit is a worker-owned cooperative offering handcrafted footwear, bags, and accessories made from upcycled automotive materials. The product portfolio centers on four core collections: Bags (totes, cross-body bags, clutches, drawstring backpacks, work totes), Wallets (bifold, trifold, and card wallet styles), Footwear (Detroit's first sneakers including The Mayor, The Eastsiders, and Strider boots), and Accessories (key chains, luggage tags, journals, coasters, valet trays, beanies). Supporting collections include The Pingree Pet (dog leashes, collars, pet ties), Home & Work (workfolios, dice trays, metal signs, mugs), and DIY Leather Scraps for crafting. The company also curates Michigan-Made Favorites from partner brands. Products are made-to-order by US veterans and Detroiters using upcycled automotive leather from the Detroit auto industry, seatbelts, and airbag materials. Each product comes with a maker card identifying its creator. The company operates on a 77% profit-sharing model with workers and offsets 110% of its carbon footprint.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• The Mayor Sneaker Detroit's first locally crafted sneaker, handmade by U.S. Veterans and Detroiters from Nappa leather reclaimed from the auto industry. Features sidewall stitching for resoling capability and is limited to 10 pairs per month due to handmade craftsmanship.
• Eastsider Low-Top Sneakers Low-top sneaker made from upcycled automotive leather with Vibram ecostep soles made from recycled materials, designed collaboratively in the USA. Priced from $360.
• Strider Chukka Boots Chukka boot made with upcycled leather and Vibram ecostep soles from recycled materials, designed collaboratively in the USA. Priced from $350.
• The 313 Shopper Tote Handmade shopping tote crafted from repurposed automotive leather featuring hand-applied Detroit skyline applique. Named after Detroit's iconic 313 area code. Features magnetic snap closure and U.S.-made stainless steel hardware. Priced at $225.
• The Adeline Lux Clutch and Cross-Body Bag 5-in-1 convertible bag offering five wear styles with leather, seatbelt, or silver chain straps. Features 6 card slots, magnetic closure, RFID-blocking sleeve, and accommodates phones up to 6.75 inches. Made from upcycled automotive leather. Priced $240-$245.
• Detroit Dopp Kit Compact travel toiletry bag handmade from upcycled automotive leather with American-made stainless steel zipper and interior organization pockets. Priced at $68.
• Motown Venue Bag Compact unisex crossbody bag designed for stadium compliance. Made from upcycled automotive leather with seatbelt strap option. Suitable for concerts, games, travel, and everyday use. Priced $170-$175.
• Detroit Drawstring Backpack Drawstring backpack made from buttery soft automotive leather with American-made zippers and two zipper pockets. Includes name card of the Veteran or Detroiter who made it.
• M-1 Work & Travel Tote Leather work and travel tote with zipper closure, detachable crossbody strap, and bottom feet. Carry-on compliant. Made from upcycled automotive leather with American-made hardware.
• Wallets Collection (Willow Run Bifold, Trifold, Concord II) Upcycled leather wallets including bifold, trifold, and slim card wallet styles made from automotive leather. Features include RFID-blocking sleeves and upcycled tent material liners. Priced from $48 to $80.
• Junkyard Dog Leash Heavy-duty dog leash made with seatbelts and upcycled automotive leather. Features American-made carabiners with double handle options and locking mechanism.
• The Pingree Pet Collection Upcycled automotive leather pet products including dog leashes with locking carabiners, pet collars, pet ties with Velcro attachments, and waste bag dispensers.
• Corktown Coasters Handmade coasters combining upcycled automotive leather with cork material. Made in Detroit with leather side up and embossed PINGREE Detroit branding.
• Detroit Valet Tray Modular valet tray handcrafted from reclaimed wood and upcycled automotive leather with removable jewelry and watch holder. Suitable for home, office, or hotel organization.
• Kercheval Knit Beanie Hand-knit beanie made with upcycled yarn featuring 3D knit construction and PINGREE Detroit logo. Zero-waste hand-sewn production.
• Upcycled Leather Scraps for DIY & Crafting Bulk upcycled automotive leather remnants sold by the pound for DIY crafting projects. Includes Nappa automotive leather in various colors and textures from car seat and steering wheel materials. Priced at $5 per pound with the sixth pound free on 5 lb orders; full hides of cream leather (35-45 sq ft) also available.
• Pingree Detroit Gift Card Gift cards available in denominations of $10, $25, $50, $75, $100, $150, $200, $400, and $500, delivered via email with no expiration date or processing fees.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 60,000 lbs of automotive leather diverted from landfills since 2015
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Diomedes IndustriesminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 7 April 2023Collaboration with Jason Moulenbelt, Veteran maker and founder of Diomedes Industries, to release the Pingree Detroit Dopp Kit in April 2023. Products made with upcycled automotive leather, seatbelts, American-made rivets and zippers.
• HagertycoreOthersHagerty powers Pingree's Materials Library, providing access to upcycled automotive leather remnants for DIY crafting and small business materials. Enables circular economy model for automotive leather materials.
• comunitymadecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on Eastsider and Strider footwear lines. Products designed collaboratively in the USA using upcycled leather and Vibram ecostep soles made from recycled materials.
• VibramcoreTechnology or IntegrationVibram ecostep soles made from recycled materials used in Strider Chukka boots and Eastsider sneakers, providing sustainable footwear technology.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Rothy's: DTC footwear and bags brand using recycled materials (plastic bottles, knit uppers) with strong sustainability storytelling. Direct overlap in making footwear + bags from recycled/upcycled inputs sold DTC at premium prices.
• Saddleback Leather: DTC leather bags and accessories brand built on durability, lifetime guarantees, and rugged materials. Comparable for premium handmade leather goods, lifetime repair guarantees, and DTC-led distribution.
• Thousand Fell: Sustainable sneaker brand with circular take-back/resoling program and recycled materials. Comparable directly because of resolable/durable construction and recycled/upcycled material story in sneakers.
• Oliver Cabell: DTC premium sneaker brand positioned as an affordable luxury alternative. Comparable on premium handmade/DTC sneakers and Made-in-(country) craftsmanship at similar price points.
• Nisolo: Sustainable leather footwear and accessories brand offering premium casual shoes and bags through DTC. Closely comparable on leather craft, premium pricing, ethical production, and accessories-plus-footwear mix.
• Koio: DTC premium sneaker brand handcrafted in Italy with sustainability/ethics credentials. Comparable for premium-handmade sneakers sold through e-commerce + select retail at similar price points.
• Allbirds: Public sustainable-casual footwear brand built around natural/recycled materials and DTC + retail. Comparable because of overlapping sustainable-footwear positioning, premium pricing, and a founder-led mission narrative, though Allbirds operates at vastly greater scale.

Broad incumbents

• TOMS: Established mission-driven footwear and apparel brand with one-for-one giving model. Comparable on social-mission-led positioning and casual footwear, though at much larger scale and broader product mix.

Regional players

• Shinola: Detroit-based heritage brand producing watches, leather goods, bicycles, and apparel. Compares on Detroit manufacturing heritage, premium positioning, brick-and-mortar retail in Detroit, and leather-goods category overlap (bags, small leather accessories).

Others

• Hagerty (Media/Parts/Driving Experience): Existing Pingree partner that powers the Materials Library. Relevant as both ecosystem partner and adjacent automotive-lifestyle brand; comparable only in the automotive-heritage/accessories adjacency, not direct competition.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/PingreeDetroit
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/pingree-detroit

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Pingree Detroit