Made for the long haul.
Madison Stitch isn’t just a leather goods company — it’s a testament to the value of doing things the right way. We craft bags, belts, and wallets from the finest Hermann Oak leather, using age-old tanning methods, solid brass hardware, and a heavy dose of American grit. Each piece is built to endure and grow richer with time, for those who understand that real quality only gets better with every scuff and scratch. From stitchless designs to vintage-inspired satchels, every Madison Stitch product is a companion for life’s wild ride, ready to carry your essentials while bearing the marks of your story. This is gear for those who don’t just pass through life but carve a path — rugged, timeless, and crafted for the long haul.
From Furniture to Hand Bags
Madison Stitch was born out of pure survival and grit. In the Spring of 2020, as COVID-19 slammed doors shut, John Pryor found himself in his Madison Flitch furniture studio, watching the world grind to a halt. He needed a lifeline and quick. So, he took up needle and thread, starting with face masks — a small bet that exploded fast and fierce. Instead of a few dozen masks, he moved over 15,000 in just eight weeks, scrambling to meet the demand. He rallied stitchers from across the city, including refugee artisans from Myanmar and Afghanistan, masters of the old-world craft and quality you can feel in every piece. Today, Madison Stitch has moved from masks to leather goods, becoming a platform for the design and craft of the local community, a testament to resilience, and a salute to handmade workmanship that’s as rugged and real as the people who make it.
Made by hand, made with love.
“What would a farm-to-table approach to artisan handbags look like? For us, it started with our local designers, then moved to locally-sourced leather and wood to create fashion accessories that reflect and celebrate the natural beauty of our community.”
~John Pryor, founder of Madison Stitch
Local materials, local artisans.
Every wood element in our bags comes from a local tree we harvested ourselves. Our leather comes from Hermann Oak tannery right here in Missouri, using traditional techniques from the 19th century. Every bag is pain-stakingly designed and made in our downtown studio by our talented stitchers based around our local materials. The end result is a product that reflects and celebrates the community.
Lifetime Guarantee
We don’t cut corners, and we stand behind our products. We offer a lifetime guarantee for every bag made in our studio. If anything ever happens to your product, due to faulty material or craftsmanship, we will fix or replace for you.
The Studio and Retail Store
We have a small studio and showroom in the Crossroads arts district of downtown Kansas City. We recommend scheduling a personal shopping appointment to ensure you receive our total attention.
501 E 16th St. Kansas City, MO 64108
Studio hours: 10-5pm Monday - Friday
For the good of the community
Our full-time stitchers are paid a living wage and our designers share in 10% of all sales. A portion of our profits also go to women’s training programs to develop the next generation of artisans.