Our fashion starts here.

We believe that good fashion is as much about the maker as it is about the finished product. By working directly with artisans in India, Mexico & Ethiopia, we're producing thoughtfully designed & ethically made handbags to help end the cycle of poverty - to be a part of changing the fashion industry for good.

Our model is to pay our artisan partners upfront. We purchase the raw materials before production begins & then paid a mutually agreed upon fair wage for their time & craftsmanship so they don’t have to take on any risk of production. That way, too, they can count on consistent paychecks to support themselves & their families. 

At Purse & Clutch, every purchase contributes to this mission of supporting long-term employment for men & women around the world with limited fair job opportunities. These handbags are truly one of kind, slowly handcrafted by our dedicated artisans.

As a Certified B Corp, we choose to care how things are made.

We're committed to the following set of values:

  • No forced or child labor
  • Artisans are paid a living wage & work in positive environments
  • We have a long term relationship of sustainable work with each of our artisan groups
  • Our artisan groups are conscious of their social, economic, & environmental impact on their country & ours using as many natural techniques & dyes as possible
  • We have a strict nondiscrimination policy based on gender, race, caste, political affiliation or age

You can read in depth about our specific production process & practices within each of our partner artisan groups in India, Mexico & Ethiopia. 

The design process is collaborative – we work with the artisans to see where they really shine & then bring our interpretation to the drawing board. Adding in a pocket for a cell phone, playing with the scale of the classic Mexican embossed details or including a wristlet strap to increase functionality so that you can carry a bag that perfectly fits your lifestyle. 

The final product is a beautiful & unique blend of cultures. 

Jen Lewis, Founder + Executive Director

In 2013, at Figure 8 Coffee in Austin, I had a meeting with a woman from Ethiopia who shared my vision for ethical fashion. We both needed to start small & grow slowly—her group of home-based leather workers needed consistent, small orders, and I wanted to design practical handbags that met my customers' needs.

This encounter sparked a beautiful partnership. Over the past decade, we’ve grown sustainably from a group of nine to 23 artisans and expanded our collaborations to include workshops in Mexico, India, and another partner in Ethiopia.

Last year, we proudly became a Certified B Corp!

Along the way as Purse & Clutch is growing, so has my family. It’s so important for me that my daughters see a woman running her own business from a place of strength while also being a present mom.

My 6 year old, Grey, loves coming to my studio in an incredible artist collective and sketching out her own handbag designs - when she’s not popping in & out of other artist studios, seeing beautiful examples of following your passion.

My 4 year old, Paige, spreads joy wherever she goes. She has Down syndrome & when I think about how one day I can create a job for her at my company if she wants it, my heart swells.

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