What Purse & Clutch does

Purse & Clutch is an artisan leather goods company founded in 2011 by Brooke McGowan and headquartered in Austin, Texas. The company designs and manufactures handcrafted leather accessories, including handbags, clutches, and wallets, with production based in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, through partnerships with local artisans who are paid fair wages. Products are sold at price points ranging from $16 to $265, reflecting a mid-market positioning within the handmade accessories segment.

The company operates a multi-channel distribution model spanning direct-to-consumer e-commerce via Shopify, wholesale to retailers, custom-branding programs for corporate clients, and nonprofit fundraising partnerships. Purse & Clutch holds Certified B Corporation status, and its brand identity emphasizes the social mission alongside product design, including a signature scalloped aesthetic and limited-edition collaborations with Guatemalan textile artisans under the "Fourth Friday" program. The company has also introduced a Build Your Own Wristlet customization platform and is undergoing a 2025-2026 rebranding with a new logo and website.

The business model is bootstrapped and founder-owned, with no external funding rounds disclosed. Headcount remains small (1-10 employees), consistent with the limited-volume, handmade production model. The company's competitive position relies on artisan partnerships, B Corp credentials, and a multi-channel go-to-market rather than technology differentiation or scale advantages.

Name

Purse & Clutch

Legal name

Purse & Clutch, LLC

Website

https://purseandclutch.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2011

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Purse & Clutch is an Austin-based artisan leather goods company founded in 2011 that designs and sells handmade handbags, clutches, and wallets produced by Ethiopian artisans, distributed via Shopify DTC, wholesale, custom branding, and nonprofit fundraising channels.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Artisan Leather Goods

NAICS

Luggage and Leather Goods Retailers (458320), Luggage and Leather Goods Retailers (45832), Textile Bag and Canvas Mills (314910)

SIC

Leather & Leather Products (3100), Retail-Apparel & Accessory Stores (5600)

akta.pro primary industry

Handbags & Purses (CRAAAJAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Wallets & Cardholders (Small Leather Goods) (CRAAAJAC), Tech & Utility Accessories (Phone Cases, Watch Bands, Key Holders) (CRAAAJAK), Luxury Handbags & Leather Goods (CRAAAFAD), Handbags & Fashion Bags Manufacturing (IMAOAHAA), Leather Handbags & Totes (CRAKAEAA)

Keywords

• Artisan leather handbags
• Handcrafted leather goods
• Ethical fashion accessories
• Custom leather branding
• Women's leather wallets

Headquarters

HQ city

Austin

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Product Sales (B2C): Direct-to-consumer sales of leather handbags, clutches, wallets, and accessories through the company website. Products include handbags ($94-$265), wallets ($94-$104), accessories ($16-$58), and limited edition items.
2. Wholesale: Wholesale channel for retailers and businesses to purchase artisan leather goods for resale
3. Custom Branded Handbags: Custom branding services for businesses looking to create branded leather goods, potentially for corporate gifts or promotional items
4. Nonprofit Fundraising: Partnership program where nonprofits can fundraise through selling Purse & Clutch products, creating jobs for artisans while supporting charitable causes

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Purse & Clutch designs and sells ethically handcrafted leather handbags, clutches, wallets, backpacks, totes, and small leather accessories that are handmade by skilled artisans in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The company operates direct-to-consumer e-commerce via its own Shopify storefront, supplemented by wholesale, custom branded corporate goods, and nonprofit fundraising channels. Signature products include the Scallops + Structure Collection and a Build Your Own Wristlet customization platform.

Product overview

Purse & Clutch is an artisan-made leather goods company offering handcrafted handbags, clutches, wallets, and accessories. The product portfolio centers on leather goods organized into several product lines: the Scallops + Structure Collection featuring scalloped-edge designs; large capacity bags including Weekender, Backpack Tote, and Large Laptop Handbag; crossbody and shoulder bags in various sizes; wallets and card carriers; and accessory add-ons including tassels, charms, wristlet straps, and pouches. The company also offers a Build Your Own Wristlet customization platform. All products are ethically handmade in Ethiopia with fair wages, and the company is a Certified B Corp. Products range from $25 leather card carriers to $265 weekender bags, with customization available through custom branding services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Handbags Collection (Scallops + Structure, Convertible, Bucket, Large, Backpack Tote) Handcrafted leather handbag assortment featuring scalloped and classic silhouettes, convertible carrying options, antique brass hardware, and Ethiopian leather construction, targeted at individual consumers seeking durable everyday and travel bags.
• Clutches Collection (Clutch Crossbody, Angle Clutch, Angle Crossbody & Clutch) Handcrafted leather clutches including hybrid clutch-crossbody designs and angular silhouettes for individual consumers seeking evening or everyday compact carry.
• Wallets Collection (Fold Over Leather Wallet, Scalloped Fold Over Leather Wallet, Leather Card Carrier, Scalloped Leather Card Carrier, Wallet Wristlet) Handcrafted leather wallets, fold-over wallets, card carriers, and wallet wristlets combining card and cash storage, targeted at individual consumers seeking compact everyday leather goods.
• Crossbody & Sling Bags Collection (Sling Bag, Scalloped Sling Bag, Small Crossbody, Simple Crossbody, Midsized Crossbody, Medium Crossbody, Phone Crossbody, Medium Tote) Handcrafted leather crossbody and sling bags in multiple sizes, including compact phone crossbody styles, targeted at individual consumers seeking hands-free everyday carry.
• Backpacks & Shoulder Bags Collection (Tassel Backpack, Backpack Tote, Large Classic Shoulder Bag, Large Wave Shoulder Bag, Bindle Bag) Handcrafted leather backpacks and shoulder bags, including hybrid backpack-tote designs with laptop sleeves and decorative tassels, targeted at individual consumers seeking functional everyday carry.
• Weekender Travel Bag Spacious leather weekender bag designed for short travel with ample storage, targeted at individual consumers seeking premium leather travel carry.
• Small Leather Accessories Collection (Medium Pouch, Key Holder, Leather Tassel, Mini Wallet Charm, Pouch Charm, Angle Wristlet Strap, Organizational Pouch, Envelope Laptop Sleeve, Leather Conditioner) Handcrafted leather accessories including pouches, key holders, tassels, charms, wristlet straps, laptop sleeves, and leather conditioner, targeted at individual consumers seeking add-on and care products for their leather goods.
• Build Your Own Wristlet Online customization platform allowing customers to build personalized leather wristlets by selecting straps, add-ons, and tassels in various colors, targeted at individual consumers seeking a personalized leather accessory purchase.
• Custom Branded Handbags Bespoke service for businesses to create custom branded leather handbags and accessories for corporate gifts, employee appreciation, client gifting, and promotional merchandise.
• Wholesale Program Wholesale program enabling retailers and resellers to purchase Purse & Clutch artisan leather handbags and accessories in bulk for resale through their own stores.
• Nonprofit Fundraising Program Partnership program allowing nonprofit organizations to fundraise by selling Purse & Clutch artisan leather products, generating charitable revenue while creating fair-wage employment for artisans.

Named customers3 records

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

Five partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Guatemala Artisan PartnersminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerArtisan partners in Guatemala producing handwoven textile products for Fourth Friday limited edition collections. Products feature unique handwoven colors and textiles, with each piece being one-of-a-kind.
• Craftworks CambodiaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWholesale partner providing safe and healthy working environment that pays fair wages, encourages education, empowers women. Previously sold through Purse & Clutch.
• One Mango Tree (Uganda)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUgandan wholesaler partner providing hand-loomed bags, wristlets, and coin purses. Added to portfolio in 2012 to expand artisan support network.
• Jen Lewis Designs (Nicaragua)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with fishermen's wives in El Transito, Nicaragua to create artisan clutches. ETCA collection launched July 2012.
• Ethiopia Artisans (Addis Ababa)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary artisan manufacturing partners in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Products are hand cut, hand assembled, and hand stitched providing fair wages for highly skilled artisans with a positive work environment. Core production facility for main product line.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Nisolo: Nisolo is an ethical leather goods brand offering handbags, wallets, and shoes made with fair-wage artisan production in Peru and other developing regions. Closely comparable on ethical positioning, leather product mix, and B Corp-aligned values.
• Lo & Sons: Lo & Sons is a DTC travel and everyday leather bag brand with comparable premium positioning and direct-to-consumer model. Overlaps on leather handbag product category and comparable price points.
• Cuyana: Cuyana is a direct-to-consumer ethical leather handbag and accessories brand with similar premium-accessible pricing, timeless design ethos, and direct artisan/manufacturer relationships. Highly comparable on positioning, customer segment, and product overlap.
• Sseko Designs: Sseko Designs is an ethical fashion brand producing handcrafted leather goods and accessories in East Africa with fair-wage employment. Comparable on African artisan production, leather handbag product category, and mission-driven brand positioning.
• Able: Able is a Nashville-based ethical fashion brand producing handbags, wallets, and accessories with transparent supply chains and fair-wage employment in developing countries. Comparable on ethical mission, leather product focus, and B Corp-style impact narrative.
• Dagne Dover: Dagne Dover is a DTC premium handbag brand offering work, travel, and lifestyle bags. Comparable on premium accessible pricing band, direct-to-consumer e-commerce focus, and functional leather/technical fabric products.
• Portland Leather Goods: Portland Leather Goods is a DTC leather handbag and wallet brand with similar handcrafted positioning, comparable pricing tiers, and direct e-commerce distribution. Highly comparable on product category and target customer.

Emerging players

• Matt & Nat: Matt & Nat is a vegan/ethical handbag and accessories brand with comparable mission-driven positioning and direct-to-consumer distribution. Partial overlap given vegan materials vs. leather focus, but comparable on values-based positioning and customer demographic.

Broad incumbents

• Coach: Coach (Tapestry) is a broad leather goods incumbent with extensive handbag, wallet, and accessories assortments at the accessible premium price band. Comparable product category and price band but operates at vastly greater scale with global retail.
• Madewell: Madewell (J.Crew Group) is a broad apparel and accessories retailer with a strong leather handbag and wallet assortment. Comparable on leather handbag/wallet product category and target customer demographic, but operates as a much larger broad-line retailer.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/purseandclutch
• Facebookfacebook.com/purseandclutch
• Instagraminstagram.com/purseandclutch
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/purse-and-clutch

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

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 Purse & Clutch