With international shipping, smaller shipments tend to have a higher cost per piece, so I asked the team to include a few additional styles in that next shipment to help balance it out. 

Those “extra” pieces became a limited edition coral leather collection I’m calling The Sunshine Collection & I’m obsessed with it!

There’s just 3 - 5 of each style available so if you see something you love or would love to gift (nudge, nudge, Mother’s Day is coming soon!) don’t take too long : ) 

The coral leather has this warmth & energy to it that brings a brightness that feels like a needed breath of fresh air & sunshine!

What started as a simple, practical decision turned into something we never would have created otherwise & now it’s one of my favorite releases we’ve done! Isn’t it funny when things work out that way?

Sometimes the best things we make come from staying flexible, trusting the process & being open to what unfolds along the way.

Seeing them together like this brings everything full circle, from early design ideas over a year ago when Lori with to Ethiopia to make this new line so incredible to the finished bags sitting right in front of me.

I wanted to give you a closer look at a few favorites & what I’m loving about them!

Beyond creating fair wage employment with our artisan partners which of course is our main mission, another goal that keeps guiding these designs is something much closer to your everyday life. 

I want these bags to make your day easier, to remove one small layer of friction so you can be present where you are instead of adjusting, juggling, or carrying more than you need to.

The Perfect Sling Bag:

The Spring Leather Bag Collection Is Here & It Was Worth the Wait!

This spring leather bag collection has been one of the most anticipated restocks since we launched & not just because the styles are beautiful. Getting here took patience, persistence, and a lot of honest conversations with the boutiques & customers who were waiting alongside us.

What Happened Last September

When we launched our newest styles last fall, the response was immediate and our small batch leather goods sold out almost as fast as we could launch them. Right as demand peaked, our tannery shut down & for a brand built on intentional small batch production, that kind of disruption touches everything: the quality of the leather, the consistency of the finish & the relationships that make our goods what they are.

We don't source from a catalog. We source from people we've worked with for years, and so we waited, we communicated, and we kept our boutique partners informed even when the updates weren't the ones anyone wanted to hear.

What Small Batch Leather Goods Actually Means

There's a version of "small batch" that lives mostly in marketing copy, and then there's the version we actually live, which means longer lead times, fewer units, deeper supplier relationships & no shortcuts on materials. Our leather goods are made in limited quantities by design, not to manufacture scarcity, but because quality at scale is genuinely a different product.

Each piece in our spring leather bag collection uses the same tannery, the same standards & the same hands that have always made them, and that's not something we're willing to trade away even when the timeline goes sideways.

The Restock & What Came With It

My 8-year-old spent part of her Spring Break helping me sort through the newly arrived inventory, and she had opinions about every single bag. Standing in the studio afterward, surrounded by restocked shelves and styles I'd nearly forgotten how much I loved, I had to remind myself to slow down & actually feel it, the relief and the gratitude and the quiet satisfaction of something difficult finally resolving into something good.

That's what this spring collection represents, not just new inventory, but proof that slow and considered making is worth the patience it asks of everyone involved.

Shop the Spring Leather Bag Collection

The restock includes styles that have been sold out since September, alongside brand new spring pieces we're introducing for the first time, and all are available in limited quantities through our studio and select boutique partners.

If something catches your eye, trust that feeling, because small batch leather goods don't linger long.

→ [Shop the Collection]

I’ve been on calls with FedEx Customer Service almost every day. Each time I feel like I figured out how to log a request when I get off the phone, but when I actually do, I’m blocked again for something different each time. I feel crazy! 

Our artisans are reaching out on their end to try to figure out what’s happening. 

I even drove to a FedEx store to talk to someone. 

Nothing seems to be working.

And I’m starting to get grumpy. This is my one week in between my kid’s total of 3 weeks of Spring Breaks to work & I’m spending it trying to get an automated line to correct my name from Jean to Jen. 

I’ve been learning a lot about the nervous system & somatics and have enjoyed finding ways to put this into practice in my personal life. Recently this played out in my parenting with my oldest after a particularly rough from transition from their grandparent’s house after a fun long weekend filled with yesses + sugary treats + no responsibilities : ) 

My 8 year old was feeling verrrry disregulated (a.k.a. mean, lol) as we got home & as tears rolled down her face I gave her a big hug while taking deep breaths. She had a good cry & I asked her to stay in her room until she felt calm again but the ticket to leave her room was a list of 10 things she was grateful for. 

After a beat, she came out with shiny eyes feeling thankful for, number one: herself, lol.

So today is Spring Launch day & 85% of our items are sitting at a FedEx facility in Johannesburg, South Africa after an attempted reroute from Dubai after the war in Iran shut down all flights from Ethiopia to the Middle East.

How’s your day going?

(insert crazy face emoji here!)

I thought about waiting & postponing the launch, but it’s been SO long since we’ve had products available after an unexpectedly rough fall with the tannery closing causing super limited inventory for the past six months & I’ve been excited to show you the gorgeous new leather colors we’ve got for Spring.

So I say let’s do it with what we have!!

Basically we have one of most styles available in the new leather colors (hello beautiful blue & classic caramel!) and are waiting on one or two more of each of these styles as well as restocks in Black & Brown leather.

Once an item sells out it will be set to preorder until we sell through what’s coming, then you’ll see an official sold out banner.

Since next week is my five year old’s Spring Break & I honestly have no idea when the shipment will arrive, let’s assume an end of March ship date : )

SHOP THE SPRING COLLECTION

I can’t thank you enough for your flexibility.

Doesn’t it kinda of feel like it’s always something?

I’m choosing to lean into resilience instead of feeling defeated.

Obviously, these are just handbags & there’s so many hard things going on in the world, but my hope is that choosing to make the best with what’s happening will trickle down into more areas of our lives.

Cheers to keeping your head up & continuing to support fair wage employment for artisans in Ethiopia. We are making an impact for good together!  

That decision required streamlining our artisan production partnerships in Ethiopia. Fewer production relationships. Greater depth. Stronger consistency.

But something unexpected happened when we chose that boundary.

I realized I missed collaborating with new artisan groups.

In ethical fashion and sustainable manufacturing, expansion often feels like the answer. More artisan partners. More countries. More products.

But growth without focus can dilute impact.

So instead of expanding our core production network, we designed a new model: Fourth Fridays.

What Are Fourth Fridays?

Fourth Fridays are monthly, limited-edition artisan collaborations. Each month, we partner with one artisan group outside our primary Ethiopian production team and place a single, significant order designed to create meaningful work opportunities.

This allows us to:

• Maintain long-term stability with our Ethiopian leather artisans
• Provide dignified work to additional artisan groups globally
• Avoid operational complexity
• Offer our community exclusive, curated products

Our first Fourth Friday collaboration features handwoven crossbody purse straps from a small artisan group in Peru. These straps pair with our upcoming spring leather crossbody collection, blending global craftsmanship with intentional design.

Why This Matters in Sustainable Business

Sustainable fashion isn’t just about materials. It’s about systems.

It’s about asking:

• How can we create consistent, fair-wage work?
• How can we avoid overproduction?
• How can we scale impact without sacrificing focus?

By placing one intentional bulk order, rather than adding ongoing production partners, we can create concentrated economic impact while preserving operational clarity.

Sometimes boundaries don’t shrink your mission.

They refine it.

If you’re interested in ethical leather goods, artisan partnerships, or nonprofit fundraising collaborations, I’d love to connect.

At 4am, I woke up & listened carefully.

Silence. Silence!!

At 6:30am, right on cue, I heard my 5-year-old say, “The light turned green! It’s morning time! It’s time to come out!”

For many families, that may sound ordinary. For us, it felt like a breakthrough.

Parenting a Child with Down Syndrome & Sleep Challenges

My youngest daughter has Down syndrome & sleep has not always come easily. Around age four, something finally clicked. She could fall asleep independently at 7pm & put herself back to sleep during the night.

Then she outgrew her crib.

We transitioned to a toddler bed, then when that was a disaster, a twin bed. Fast forward two months of near constant middle of the night visits to my room & both of us cranky + exhausted.

While searching for solutions for special needs sleep challenges, I discovered something I didn’t know existed: a twin-sized crib designed to provide safe boundaries for older children who need them.

I hesitated.

It felt like regression.
It felt like failure.

But the opposite happened.

The boundary wasn’t restrictive, it was supportive.

Without the option to wander, she rested. She felt secure. She regained independence.

And I started noticing a bigger leadership lesson.

How Constraints Increase Creativity & Reduce Decision Fatigue

We tend to believe that more options equal more freedom.

But in reality, too many options often create:

• Decision fatigue
• Conflict
• Overwhelm
• Scattered focus

I’ve seen this play out in small, everyday ways:

1. Fewer choices, more peace
When my old iPhone stopped connecting to my car, my daughters could no longer debate song selections. We switched to the radio. No negotiations. No arguments. Just me singing old school country songs at the top of my lungs, which I think we all see as a win : ) 

2. Food constraints spark creativity
When I limit Mondays to meatless meals, I don’t feel deprived. I feel creative. Clear parameters generate new ideas.

3. Narrowing business focus increases impact
As I refine the direction of Purse & Clutch, I’ve experienced more clarity, stronger priorities & greater creative energy. Fewer initiatives mean deeper impact.

Why Boundaries in Business Build Momentum

In entrepreneurship, especially for founders & creatives, it’s tempting to keep every door open.

But clarity requires constraint.

Boundaries:

• Simplify decisions
• Protect energy
• Reduce noise
• Build confidence
• Create sustainable growth

Sometimes scaling impact doesn’t require expanding options. It requires narrowing them.

A Leadership Challenge for You

If you’re feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or unclear in your business or life, ask yourself:

• Where are too many options slowing me down?
• What decision am I postponing because I want to keep every path open?
• What would happen if I chose one direction, just for now?

Constraints can quiet the noise.
Boundaries can build confidence.
Limits can create momentum.

You might be surprised how much clarity & creativity are waiting on the other side of “less.”

As I sit down to write this, I’m texting three friends who are walking through incredibly difficult life stages. The kind that rearrange you.

At the same time, I’m personally running on fumes.

We’ve entered our second month of disrupted sleep with my little one waking multiple times a night. My oldest recently told me our house is “no longer peaceful” because I’ve been snapping at everyone in my exhaustion.

Ouch.

Add in the cultural noise, strong opinions about the Super Bowl halftime show, nonstop political discourse & the endless churn of social media and it feels like the world is operating at maximum volume.

If you feel overstimulated, overwhelmed, or stretched thin right now, you’re not alone.

And more importantly: you’re not weak.

You’re likely under-rested.

The Culture of Constant Engagement

We are living in a system that rewards:

• Immediate opinions

• Constant productivity

• Emotional reactivity

• 24/7 accessibility

As founders, leaders, parents & impact-driven entrepreneurs, we often internalize this pace.

In ethical manufacturing & sustainable business, we reject exploitative labor systems. Yet many of us unknowingly exploit ourselves, pushing through exhaustion in the name of responsibility or growth.

But sustainable impact cannot be built from chronic depletion.

What “Rest Is Resistance” Actually Means

Rest is resistance because it pushes back against:

• Hustle culture

• Outrage-driven media cycles

• Productivity as identity

• The belief that worth equals output

Rest regulates your nervous system.
Rest restores your clarity.
Rest allows you to lead long-term instead of reacting short-term.

When things feel like they’re spinning faster & faster, rest is not indulgent.

It’s strategic.

Practical Ways to Rest (Even in Busy Seasons)

If you’re in a full season with kids home from school, business demands increasing, life feeling heavy, here are simple entry points:

Rest your brain:
Read fiction instead of scrolling headlines. I recently finished You Are Here by David Nicholls & I highly recommend.

Rest your body:
Take a nap. Go to bed early. Close the laptop.

Rest your mind:
Take a silent walk. No podcast. No call. No input.

Rest your soul:
Do something joyful & unnecessary like eating cookies + cream ice cream in the middle of the afternoon. And bring me some : ) 

Small pauses recalibrate your entire system.

Sustainable Leadership Starts With Self-Regulation

Whether you’re building a business, leading a team, raising kids, or trying to create impact in a noisy world, your capacity matters.

Your clarity matters.

Your nervous system matters.

You do not have to have a hot take today.
You do not have to fix everything.
You do not have to operate at maximum capacity at all times.

Sometimes the most responsible, ethical, sustainable choice you can make is to rest.

Because rest is resistance.
And sustainable impact requires sustainability in you first.

Last September, I traveled to Ethiopia to visit our artisan partners, an experience that continues to shape how I think about ethical manufacturing, leadership, and sustainability.

One of the most impactful parts of the trip wasn’t found inside a workshop or supply chain conversation, it was found in the quiet, intentional coffee rituals woven into everyday life.

In Ethiopia, coffee is not rushed. It’s connective. It’s a shared pause that invites presence, conversation, and alignment before the day begins.

When I returned home, I brought that rhythm with me.

For a season, I woke up early & recreated my own version of that ritual of sitting quietly, savoring my coffee, was a way to start the day grounded rather than reactive. It felt like an anchor in a fast-moving world.

Then life changed.

I’m a parent to a daughter with Down syndrome & during this season we’ve been navigating disrupted sleep as she continues working on impulse control. Anyone parenting through additional support needs knows how quickly personal rhythms can disappear.

Slow mornings were no longer possible.

Recently, a small moment helped me reclaim something I thought I had lost. I bought a handmade mug from one of my favorite ethical boutiques, Mango + Main.  Now I make coffee in my studio & drink it slowly from start to finish, staring out the window before the day begins.

It’s a small practice, but it has become a lifeline.

Why This Matters for Ethical Manufacturing

This experience has reminded me that sustainability is about far more than ethical sourcing or fair wages (though those matter deeply). True sustainability also includes pace, care, and human-centered design both in business and in life.

When we talk about ethical manufacturing, we’re really talking about systems that honor people:

• Artisans
• Business owners
• Families
• Communities

Travel plays a powerful role in this understanding.

Visiting Ethiopia didn’t just educate me, it reshaped my internal rhythms. It reminded me that thoughtful, sustainable work is built slowly, intentionally & in relationship.

Bringing These Rhythms Forward

As I prepare to return to Ethiopia February 2027 & invite others to experience this culture firsthand, I’m struck by how rare it is to give ourselves something meaningful to look forward to. Something that expands us rather than exhausts us!

Ethical travel has a way of doing that. It doesn’t just change how we see the world it, changes how we come home.

And sometimes, it starts with something as simple as a cup of coffee.

If you're interested in learning more about next Spring's trip, you can find details here. 

Thank you. These two words feel so small compared to the gratitude in my heart, but they matter. If you’re reading this, you’ve chosen to shop thoughtfully & support something deeply meaningful: the people behind the products. Your choices have a real impact that reaches far beyond your doorstep.

What Your Support Really Means

Every order placed during our Insiders Warehouse Sale directly supports artisan partners and their families. That’s not just a tagline — it’s lived experience. Your order helps:

• Provide stable income for makers who care about craft and quality.

• Sustain workshops that value dignity, fair wages & community.

• Fuel creativity & economic opportunity in places that need it most.

When you choose ethical handcrafted pieces, you’re part of a ripple effect that uplifts people and communities.

A Few Pieces Still Available

If you haven’t shopped the sale yet, there are still a few items left including some unique pieces that deserve good homes. These are truly the final pieces from this collection & once they’re gone, they’re gone for good.

Whether you’ve already made a purchase or are still deciding, I hope you’ll feel proud that this sale isn’t just about savings, it’s about impact & intention.

Sneak Peek: What’s Coming Next

I’m also excited to share that our artisan partners have secured a new leather source for Spring, a development that means improved consistency, quality, and sustainability across future collections. This is the kind of behind-the-scenes progress that speaks to long-term growth & meaningful craftsmanship.

Something Fun for Insiders

On Friday, I’ll be revealing a monthly insiders-only experience in our Facebook Group, a new rhythm designed just for this community. Think of it as a small celebration of you and the values we share.

Why This Matters

In times that feel heavy or uncertain, it’s easy to wonder: Does what I do really matter? The answer is a resounding yes. Not only have you supported artisans one order at a time, but you’ve built a space rooted in care, dignity & connection.

Thank you for being part of this journey.

With gratitude,
Jen

Spring is a season of momentum, renewal & laying foundations and this year, it comes with news we’ve been waiting more than six months to share.

After a long production pause, our second artisan group in Ethiopia has secured a consistent source of high-quality leather, which means we are officially back in business!

This milestone allows us to restart production on some of our most-loved leather handbags including our beloved Bucket Bag & support artisans who have been patiently waiting to return to steady work.

Why This Artisan Group Matters

This artisan group plays a vital role in our work at Purse & Clutch. They are the team behind several of our core leather styles that have been sold out for months, and they’re also the partners we collaborate with on custom made to order bags for nonprofit fundraisers.

When their production paused due to supply chain disruptions, it wasn’t just our inventory that stopped it was income, stability & momentum for a talented group of makers.

Finding a reliable leather source is no small feat & this breakthrough represents resilience, persistence & partnership built over years.

How the Warehouse Sale Makes a Direct Impact

To help this artisan group fully ramp back up, we’re bumping up our annual Warehouse Sale from the summer to Friday, January 23rd, with proceeds going directly toward increasing our next production order.

This means your purchase helps:

• Fund larger leather orders
• Restart production on long-requested styles
• Create consistent, fair-wage work for artisans
• Strengthen a more reliable and sustainable supply chain

The Warehouse Sale isn’t just about making space for what’s next, it’s about investing in the people who make our bags possible! Shop the sale at noon CST in our Facebook Insiders Group. 

Sold-Out Styles Are Finally on Their Way Back

If you’ve been waiting on restocks, this is the news you’ve been hoping for. With production restarting, we’re preparing for:

• Our beloved bucket bag & so many gorgeous leather handbags we’ve been sold out of for over six months
• Styles used in our nonprofit fundraising partnerships
• A new variant of our gorgeous collection that will debut for Mother's Day later this Spring

This next chapter allows us to move forward thoughtfully, with better systems & stronger sourcing in place.

A Community-Powered Comeback

At Purse & Clutch, ethical fashion isn’t just about materials, it’s about relationships.

This moment is possible because of a community that shops intentionally, supports transparently & understands that sustainable business growth is rarely linear.

As we step into spring, we’re doing so with renewed energy, deeper gratitude & a clear sense of purpose.

Thank you for being part of this season of rebuilding & growth!

Final product photography edits, getting to see the gorgeous photos that my team member Janelle Whitehead took of the new styles & uploading the new Spring styles with new descriptions for preorder for our wholesale boutiques. 

As I’ve been mindlessly editing, I’ve found myself feeling so grateful for YOU & for this community. There were moments last fall where I didn’t know if we would make it to Spring, but you carried us through.

Looking at our numbers for 2025, our expenses increased by 37% from the year before.

Our revenue increase by 54%!

That’s because you all showed up.

You purchased Tariff Funds, you shared on social media, you left a review, you came to Ethiopia with me (!), you bought a bag, you told a friend about us.

And while we’re still climbing uphill in Q1 to catch up on our missing fall production runs from the tannery closing in Ethiopia, I can so clearly see the path forward.

Our main artisan partners in Ethiopia have found a reliable & high quality tannery to partner with. They’re actually placing a big leather order for us next Monday!

We’re going to be in a great position as we launch our Spring Collection on March 12th.

In the meantime, I’ve got two asks of you:

1. if you know of a boutique in your area that you love & you think our handbags would be a good fit for them, can you reply to this email & let me know?

2. if you made a purchase last year, could you take a minute to leave a review? Having customer reviews, especially with so many new products from the fall makes a huge difference! Just scroll to the bottom of the product page (hint use the search bar in the top right corner to find your purchased item.)

Thankful for you!!

We were able to cover OVER HALF of our tariff bills thanks to your generosity & I can’t wait to hear how much your friend & family love their certificates + what interesting conversations were sparked!

This week feels like a milestone worth sharing: our final shipment from Ethiopia has officially arrived for 2025, & every last style we’ll have for the holidays is now live on the site.

What makes this delivery feel extra special is what’s inside: the very pieces that sold out within 48 hours when we launched the Fall Collection. 

The ones you all couldn’t stop talking about.

And yes, you’ll notice that so many of them are in that gorgeous Olive leather we only offer in the fall. The color that somehow manages to feel both bold & grounding all at once.

But here’s the part I love most: you’re the reason this moment even exists.

Every time you choose to support thoughtful design & fair-wage craftsmanship, you’re casting a vote for the kind of world you want to live in. 

You’re helping artisans in Ethiopia earn stable, dignified income.

You’re showing that beauty & impact can coexist. 

So if you’ve had your eye on something or you missed out during those first sell-out days, this is the moment to take a look because once these pieces find their new homes, they won’t be restocked until March

Thank you for making this holiday season about more than gifts.
Thank you for being part of something bigger.

Shop the restocks here!

Many of you have kindly asked how you can help. 

On a mind-clearing walk around the block I came up with an idea that I’m really excited about because sometimes the best way to solve a problem is head on. 

So I’ve launched the Tariff Fund. 

Buy a certificate for $12 that will directly help us offset our unexpected tariff bills & give us a needed boost to the fun things we have planned for Spring. 

Each certificate will come with a free packet of flower seeds, lovingly gathered as a small token of my appreciation. 

It will also come with a hearty dose of gratitude, which is what makes it double as a perfectly thoughtful gift for your friends or stocking stuffer for your family.

It’s a small but mighty way to support fair wages and cross gifts off your to buy for list.

Because they make such unique, meaningful gifts, I’m making them available in individual certificates, but also in bundles of 5 or 10 so you can share the joy of doing good + supporting a small business that makes a beautiful impact on the world. 

Definitely a different take on Black Friday, but maybe it’s time for different!

Bárbara has this way of infusing joy into everything she touches.

Her hand-painted designs from bright strawberries to olives & baguettes turn our classic leather bags into one-of-a-kind pieces of art.

Working with her reminds me how much energy collaboration brings, the kind that makes work feel playful again.

It’s a beautiful reminder that creativity isn’t meant to happen in a vacuum. 

It grows & shines when we share it.

We’re offering a selection of Barbara’s adorable painting to be added on to any of our handbags through Sunday at midnight CST!

Each one feels like a joyful reminder of what can happen when two creative worlds collide.

Choose any of our bags (that aren’t embossed), choose your art & add both to your cart!

These are painted to order & will take a few weeks to complete, but they'll definitely ship before Christmas : )

Shop the collab here: https://www.purseandclutch.com/pages/breakfast-friend 

Maybe this week, you’ll find a small way to collaborate too! 

I challenge you to do something alongside someone who makes you laugh, who sees the world a little differently, who reminds you how fun creating can be.

This idea started with a simple hope: to create something meaningful for the holidays that brings people together. 

I wanted it to be easy enough for anyone to enjoy (even kids or the self-proclaimed “un-crafty”) but fun & beautiful enough for those who love to get creative, too.

Something you could make  each year, filling your tree with handmade ornaments that remind you of time well spent together.

Or maybe you’ll gift the finished ornaments to favorite teachers, grandparents, or coworkers at an office ornament exchange.

Or maybe you’ll snag a few kits & host a craft night with a sweet friends, mugs of cocoa in hand. 

Or maybe you’ll gift the entire kit to someone who could use a cozy little reminder that you were thinking of them. 

If you have loved ones who live far away, maybe you’ll send one kit to them & keep one for yourself & set up a FaceTime Crafternoon.

The possibilities of connection & care are endless.

I’ve had so much fun dreaming up every detail! 

Each kit includes everything you need to make three keepsake ornaments:

• three precut leather house-shaped ornaments, handmade in India

• two white gel pens

• three mint-colored velvet threads for hanging

• a QR code leading to a cozy holiday playlist

• a link to my design inspiration Pinterest board

• instructional videos from  artist Kathy Phan + from my 8 year old daughter : ) 

It’s the first in what I know will become a meaningful annual tradition: a new ornament kit every holiday season, designed to spark creativity, connection, & joy.

Our Leather Gingerbread House Ornament Making Kits are available now in limited quantities for this first release!

P.S. If you’re local to Austin, I’d love to invite you to join the Ornament Making Workshop I’m hosting on Tuesday, December 2nd at Praxis Coffee East from 7:30pm - 9:00pm. 

You can get your ticket here. Your ticket includes your Ornament Kit plus charcuterie, a strawberry shrub & the festive warm beverage of your choice!

She’s recently devoured all of my old American Girl books, which apparently sparked an appreciation for classic sleepwear, so we started looking together. 

First, we checked my go-to secondhand site, then a few ethical children’s brands I know, but no luck. Apparently, girls’ nightgowns  are not exactly trending in 2025, lol!

So we clicked over to Amazon.

A few minutes into scrolling, she turned to me & said, “I wish I lived in China.”

Confused, I asked why.

She said, “That’s where all the nightgowns are made & then we could just go and pick one out. And look, Mom, they’re so much cheaper!”

I paused.

Took a deep breath. 

And thanked her for the reminder that there is a story behind everything we purchase.

And then we talked about it.

About the cost of quality materials & fair wages.

A with bout how people make the things we buy. 

She’s often in the Purse & Clutch studio with me, so this wasn’t her first time hearing it, but it might’ve been the first time she really felt it.

She asked if we could go back to the secondhand site, and we did.

There was exactly one nightgown in the next size up & we bought it in all of its ruffled glory.

It’s moments like this that remind me that where we spend our money matters.

This holiday season, as prices rise & small businesses stretch to keep going, our purchases carry quiet power. 

And I know you know this, but I also know that I need a reminder myself from time to time.

Every dollar spent is a small vote for the kind of world we want more of.

One where thoughtful design, fair wages & human connection can thrive.

No shame. No pressure.

Just an invitation to notice that our choices, even something as simple as a nightgown, are part of a bigger story.

And we get to choose which stories we want to buy into.

Thank you for choosing to care how things are made. 

My business literally depends on it!

In Ethiopia, coffee isn’t something you grab to power through your to-do list, it’s an experience. 

Most mornings, we’d sit together for a traditional coffee ceremony. A slow, intentional ritual that’s about much more than caffeine. The smell of roasting beans would fill the air, conversation would flow, & time seemed to stretch in the most beautiful way.

When I came home, I couldn’t quite shake how grounded that rhythm felt. So I decided to make my own (very simplified) version.

Now, I wake up about 30 minutes earlier than I used to. And by that, I mean I actually get out of bed when my 5 year old wakes up super early & starts singing the ABCs in her bed : ) 

I brew a cup of coffee, nothing fancy, and actually sit down to drink it.

Revolutionary, I know. 

Sometimes I read a book.

Sometimes I catch up on work if a kiddo happens to be home.

Sometimes I just sit on the back porch & enjoy almost needing a sweatshirt. 

But I drink the whole cup from start to finish, without rushing, without doing five other things at once.

It’s become this small but meaningful way to stay connected to the intentional, relational culture I fell in love with in Ethiopia & a reminder that slowness can be sacred.

Our trip there was so, so beautiful.

And I honestly can’t imagine not sharing that experience with more of y’all.

I’ve set up a super low-pressure waitlist for anyone who’s even a little bit curious about joining our next adventure.I’m thinking Spring 2027, which gives us plenty of time to plan (& dream!)

If you’ve ever wanted to experience the beauty, hospitality, and artistry of Ethiopia firsthand, I’d love for you to be part of it.

Sign up for the waitlist here -> https://www.purseandclutch.com/pages/ethiopia-awaits 

I made the choice to invest deeply in getting us to the next level. Not just for growth’s sake, but so we can exponentially increase our impact. 

This meant hiring the most amazing designer (hi Lori!) to completely reimagine one of our main collections & I truly couldn’t be more proud with how beautifully it has turned out.

I’ve connected with more custom branding partners than I’d even set as my stretch goal, and without a single cold pitch, we had five dream nonprofit partners lined up for fall fundraisers.

Then, word came that our artisan partners were having trouble sourcing leather. 

For years, we’ve relied on a trusted tannery in Addis Ababa.

One that shares our values & commitment to quality. 

At first, we heard that tariffs on raw materials were too high, limiting access to hides. 

So we waited, trusting our partners’ resourcefulness & experience.

They found just enough to keep things moving. Then inflation hit hard. Prices soared, and the tannery owner ultimately decided to close their doors. 

Overnight, there was no leather available at all.

I had to let each of our nonprofit partners know we couldn’t move forward with their fall production. 

For our custom branding partners, we secured just enough leather to complete our fall run, but the delay meant we wouldn’t have time for a second holiday production or restock our new collection.

With already limited inventory heading into the holiday season, we’ll have just 63 more items arriving in mid November.

And then came a 53% tariff bill (normally closer to 10%) on our upcoming leather ornaments from India. More on tariffs later, but I promise to make it fun!

In short: between the lost production run & paused fundraisers, I haven’t been able to fully recover our initial investment in the new Purse & Clutch just yet.

You see people talking about big swings, but few talk about when it doesn’t go as planned. 

We’ve all faced disappointment in things that are out of our control. 

When I first understood the weight of these changes & what they meant for our finances and for our artisan partners, I felt like the air had been knocked out of me. 

I kept waiting for a message saying, “We found a solution.”

But that message never came.

So, I sat in the disappointment. I let myself feel it. 

During a recent group coaching call, my coach asked if I’d had a good cry yet. I said, “I think this is it.” The women on the call teared up with me, holding space for both the fear & the hope.

When my coach asked what I needed from others, my first instinct was to joke, “Buy a bag.” 

But as I thought about it more, what I truly need is encouragement. 

To be seen in the in-between, in that quiet space of waiting & unexpected rebuilding.

We’re often told to push through, to figure it out alone.

But I’ve learned that real resilience is built in community.

So, I want to ask: please, yes, buy a bag if one’s been on your wishlist. But also, if you’re able, send a note of encouragement. 

Just comment below.

I’ve switched the few remaining items that will arrive in just over a month to preorder so you can see exactly what will be available through the rest of the year.

If we can sell through this current inventory & make our upcoming Leather Ornament launch (November 6th!) something special, we’ll be in a strong position to hold steady until spring  when our artisan partners will be ready to launch new work through smaller tanneries we’ve begun connecting with outside Addis Ababa.

This season has been full of challenge, but also full of heart.

And I believe, deeply, that we’re building something lasting, together, even with a big, unexpected road bump. 

It’s the update I didn’t want to have to share, but I think it’s worthwhile as often we never see people’s “non-highlight reel.” 

Basically, I’m going to need your help to get us through to Spring, but I’ll explain everything in next week’s email.

Until then, 

Jen

Days began with strong coffee & warm greetings, and evenings ended with laughter echoing around a shared table. 

In those moments, thousands of miles from home, I felt a sense of connection that reminded me why Purse & Clutch exists: to bridge lives, stories, & opportunities across the world.

New logo.

New styles.

Same ethics.

Shop the new collection here!

I’m writing this from an airport hotel in Qatar after an 18-hour flight delay. At this point, I’ve lost track of what time it is where & by the time my usual Thursday morning newsletter lands in Texas, I’ll likely be too tired to put words together.

But there’s no way I could let this week pass without saying thank you.

What an incredible adventure we just had. It’s hard to put into words how special our time together was.

I spent the week surrounded by some of the most amazing people:

Those who said yes to this adventure & continued to inspired me in how they thoughtfully approached the experience.

My friends in Addis who planned delicious meals, intimate cultural experiences, and showed us a new depth of community kindness.

The leaders of our artisan partners who continue to choose excellence at every step.

And, of course, the artisans themselves, so incredibly skilled in their handcraft.

With this full heart, I finally get to introduce you to the new Purse & Clutch.

Thoughtfully designed.
Meticulously handcrafted

These are handbags that will elevate your outfit while letting you feel proud of the positive impact your purchase makes supporting economic development in Ethiopia.

Almost 10 years ago, I first visited a small artisan workshop. Returning this week, I could hardly recognize it because of the incredible growth. They’ve expanded to fill the entire compound & now they’ve secured new land and started building a larger workshop

I’ll share more about this next week (hopefully after sleeping more than three hours in a row!), but I couldn’t send out this big new launch without pausing to say thank you.

Because here’s the truth: a bigger workshop means more opportunities to grow the team and expand our impact in the community.

And that’s possible because of you.

Happy shopping!

I know you’re going to love this collection as much as I do.

According to a quick Google search, the AI overviews explains that “the Ethiopian year is different because its calendar is rooted in an ancient calculation of Jesus Christ’s brith that places it seven or eight years later than the Gregorian calendar”

The timing feels significant: stepping into a new year here while we launch a new chapter at Purse & Clutch next week.

They talk about TIA - This is Africa - and I plan to fully embrace the mentality of being present, not rushing & prioritizing relationships while I’m here with an incredible group of women.

I’ve actually never shared this story with anyone before, but when I was in college studying Chemistry & trying to discern what I wanted to do with my life I had a profound experience at the campus library.

I knew I had a pull towards Community Development and at the time I’d made multiple trips to Mexico, spent a summer in Bolivia and was planning on moving to Honduras upon graduating. I definitely felt drawn to Central America and the beauty of the hispanic culture.

My dad was born & raised in Nigeria and I grew up with stories of my uncle who lived there and a home life that celebrated international beauty. In the back of my mind, I wondered (even hoped!) if this would be a connection I would follow up with one day.

So back to me in college, sitting in the library daydreaming about how I would invest my life & I looked over at the bookshelf and saw a book titled simply Ethiopia that seemed to stand out on the shelf.

It felt like one of those moments of deep meaning, but I remember distinctly thinking, that it couldn’t be right as I was probably going to follow a path to Central America or Nigeria.

And now here I sit, on the balcony of a beautiful hotel in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, after working with our artisan partners for 10 years. Now I get to share this beautiful experience with you. What an honor it is.    

You can follow along on the trip here on my Instagram. It’s truly my joy to share the incredible work that goes into each one of our handmade handbags & the bigger impact of why Purse & Clutch exists

The new Purse & Clutch will officially launch on Thursday, September 18th at 8:00am CST.

With the tannery here being closed due to tariffs & an inability to source needed supplies to prepare the leather, our inventory levels are much smaller than usual for a big launch, which means I anticipate styles to sell out quickly!!

So set an alarm & my next email to you will have the link to shop & explore the new incredible collection!

Sending love your way from Addis.

P.S. Should you find yourself wishing you were here, go ahead & sign up to be on the waitlist to join me on our next trip!

I’ve been finalizing  our trip agenda (you’ll find it attached here!) and feeling so honored to share the incredible work of our artisan partners while exploring the beauty & culture of Ethiopia together.

There’s something so powerful about seeing where the bags you carry are actually made, and the hands & hearts behind them.

As I get ready to head out, I’d love your input: what behind-the-scenes moments would you be most excited to see on Instagram?

The bustling artisan workshops?

The food we’re eating?

The markets, landscapes, or our group’s adventures?

Let me know in the comment section below! I want to bring you along as much as possible!

Elegantees is one of those rare brands that’s doing it right.

Based in New York, they partner with seamstresses in Nepal to create dignified, long-term employment for women overcoming trafficking & poverty. 

Their commitment to ethical manufacturing runs deep & it aligns so closely with our mission at Purse & Clutch.

Then I got a glimpse at their pre-fall collection: 

The vision came together quickly.

A curated capsule collection of our favorite pre-Fall handbags to complement their soft, wearable styles. 

Katie & her team brought it all to life in the most breathtaking lavender field photoshoot.

Pictured here is our Clutch Crossbody ($136) perfectly paired with their HAMPTON dress ($69). 

The result is a beautiful merging of values & aesthetics that feels like a breath of fresh air.

I’m so excited to announce that for the next four weeks only, you can shop a curated selection of Elegantees clothing right on our website.

It’s the easiest (and most beautiful) way to support two ethical brands at once.

Shop the edit here! 

My first pick is definitely snagging a pair of the ELLE pants … once I can decide which color I can’t live without : ) 

I knew I wanted to do work that felt meaningful, but I still made quick purchases at big box stores without giving it a second thought. I didn’t read labels. I didn’t ask who made what I was buying.

But over the years, something shifted.

As I worked directly with artisan groups around the world, as I saw what happened when we paid living wages & honored traditional skills. 

I started to change. 

Slowly, my shopping habits followed. I’d reach for the cheaper option & pause. I’d ask myself: Do I really want this if I don’t know who made it or how they were treated?

And then I couldn’t unsee it.

I couldn’t keep building one part of my life around intention & justice, while shopping the other part in a way that undermined it.

The first time I visited our artisan partners in Ethiopia in 2016, the shift that had been slowly forming in me caught fire.

There’s something about sitting in the workshop and sharing tea with the men & women who make the bags. About seeing each stitch done by hand, each brass closure hammered into place.

It’s slow.

It’s focused.

And it’s deeply human.

In a world that prizes fast & cheap, this was something else entirely.
Rooted. Patient. Beautifully inefficient in all the right ways.

I remember coming home after that  trip, walking through a store & feeling overwhelmed.

I saw all the things I used to buy without thinking & felt their weight in a new way. 

Not guilt, exactly, but clarity.

I didn’t want to shop the same way anymore.

That trip didn’t just change my business. 

It changed me.

This September, I’m going back to Ethiopia & I’m inviting a small group to come with me.

This is more than a behind-the-scenes tour, though yes, you’ll meet the artisans, visit the workshop, & see the bags come to life!

It’s a chance to step into the story.

To get closer to the hands, the process & the people behind what we buy.

If you’ve been craving a deeper connection to your values, your work, or just the way you move through the world, this is for you.

Come to Ethiopia not as a tourist, but as a witness.

Come ready to be changed.

Send me an email if you’re feeling that tug to join us & I’ll send you the details!

Each bag in our latest Mexico restock went through a hundred tiny steps: from hand-thinning leather with a knife, to hammering in each embossed design, to sewing the stitching details by hand.

And after all that work, the final step is oiling the leather & drying it in the sun.

Except… it’s the rainy season in Chiapas, Mexico.

And this time, we didn’t get enough sunlight to finish the bags.

So we waited.

My grad school mentor (hi Wendy!) used to say that everything in life can fall into one of three categories: things you can change, things you can influence, & things you can do absolutely nothing about.

She would say that it’s not worth spending your energy on things you can do nothing about.

Whether the sun shines or not?

Yeah, can’t do anything about that so I decided not to spend any energy on it & to just wait. 

If you find yourself in that kind of season, where you're doing everything you can & still waiting on something that’s out of your hands, I hope this is your gentle reminder that you’re not alone. 

It’s okay to pause.

It’s okay to just wait.

Sometimes the only next right step is to take a walk around the neighborhood & trust the sun will come back when it’s ready.

And in our case, it finally did!

After months of detailed work & months of being sold out, the bags are officially back in stock. 

If you’ve been waiting, too…

Shop the Mexico Collection here!

These styles are some of my very favorite, especially for summer adventures!

I can’t wait to send one your way.

If you’ve been around for a while, you may remember our adorable Pom Pom Keychains that we made a few years ago. Well, my friends, they’re BACK + in five fresh color ways!

Be sure to scroll down on each of the product pages as we have new videos of the bags being made. The process really is incredible!

They’re the same group that will be making our new hangtags for our big  Fall launch of the “new” Purse & Clutch!

I began dreaming up other ways to provide more work for these new partners knowing I wanted to explore offering something gift-able for Christmas, I found myself drawn to the idea of creating something that invited people to slow down. 

A way to step back from the busyness of the holiday season & spend time together, but make it easy, lol!

That’s how our new DIY Leather Ornament Kits came to life.

I’m putting the finishing touches on them now & preorders will open in early November (!) but before I finalize things, I’d love your input as this is a totally new category for Purse & Clutch.

What price would you expect for a DIY kit that includes everything you need to make three keepsake leather ornaments:

• 3 gingerbread house shaped leather cutouts (buttery soft + ready to decorate)

• 2 high quality white gel pens for crisp detail work

• 3 rich velvet ribbon for hanging

• A giftable box with access to a curated holiday playlist & access to a design idea webpage with inspiration & tips including from watercolor artist Kathy Phan of Kathy Phantastic + from my hilariously confident 7 year old : ) 

It’s everything you need for a cozy craft night with friends, family, or just yourself & a mug of hot chocolate.

We’re doing this in small batches with hand punched leather & thoughtfully sourced materials, so your feedback will help us make sure we price it fairly and sustainably.

Would you take 10 seconds to comment below & let me know what you'd expect to pay for this kit?

Thank you for being part of the BTS of what’s going on around here, even though it’s JULY & we’re talking Christmas!

—

xoxo,

Jen Lewis, Founder of Purse & Clutch

Y’all showed up for the Warehouse Sale with bells + whistles!

We cleared out shelves & I’ve been a shipping machine : )

I’m so excited to announce that we hit our goal!

And I’m ready to hit the ground running.

The samples for our totally revamped Fall Collection to launch the new Purse & Clutch arrived from Ethiopia on Monday & they are absolutely stunning. 

Like, maybe I teared up when I was opening the boxes kind of stunning.

I’ve scheduled a photoshoot with the incredible Joi Conti for THIS Monday & I whipped up these mood boards to guide the shoot:

Working with Joi is truly a dream & it is only possible because of the ways you showed up during our Warehouse Sale. 

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

YOU are such an important part of making all this happen!

I’ll be doing the product photography myself & I’m feeling a new wave of energy with the gorgeous light from the big window in my studio space. 

I’ve ordered a big white role of photography paper, a stand & fishing wire to hold up the handbag handles invisibly - now you know ; ) 

I need some good upbeat music to listen to.

Any suggestions??

I’m kinda stuck in an old school Regina Spector rut. 

And as crazy as it seems, this is how early things happen for a Fall Collection launch for September. The new collection will officially launch the week I get back from Ethiopia on September 18th! Last call for anyone to join me in Ethiopia. Details here : )

But don’t worry, I’ve got a few fun things up my sleeve between then & now including restocks from Mexico on our long sold out styles + new pom poms AND a totally different kind of collaboration than we’ve done before with a beloved ethical fashion clothing brand. 

But for today, I’m going to take a deep breath.

Dust off my now empty shelves.

And enjoy the moment. 

Thanks for showing up & being a true community around me as I make this big leap forward.

Every dollar from this sale is going directly to fund the photography for our upcoming Fall Collection. 

And that’s huge, because high-quality photography is what helps us show off the incredible craftsmanship of our artisan partners & it's what ultimately drives the sales that allow us to keep creating jobs and making an impact.

This week, I want to get into the details.

Usually, our summer sale features deep discounts on discontinued styles & our Samples + As Is items have only ever been available to our Facebook Insiders. 

But this year, I’m opening up the fun to everyone!

Don’t worry, Insiders—there are still some special perks for you too : )

I want everyone’s smile to be as big as Leslie & my smiles are here!

Here’s why this sale always clears out fast:

• We rarely do sales

• I’ve marked things down to true warehouse prices

• You can get a literal one-of-a-kind bag with fun samples

• And “As Is” bags = amazing deals on still-great bags with small imperfections

So here’s how it’ll work:

Starting on Thursday, June 12th at 8:00am CST,
Head to our homepage & you’ll see two featured collections:

1. As Is / Sample Sale – Each item has a quick photo, and for anything less-than-perfect, I’ve included a video walking you through the flaw. I did videos for the Samples too, so you can get a better look than my quick snapshots.

2. Discontinued Styles – This collection is way bigger than usual. We’re retiring our entire original Ethiopian collection to make room for the Fall overhaul & most of these styles have never been on sale before.

Pro tip: These items will go fast.

Feel free to check out multiple times & use the code AMIGOS for free shipping on every order. Then we’ll combine them on our end so no one grabs your favorite bag while you're still browsing.

Thanks for being here. 

Your support makes this next big step possible & I can’t wait to show you what’s coming next!

Until next week (eek!)...