After getting custom axe requests from friends and family, we launched Fontenelle Supply Co. and started selling our restored axes on Etsy. The need for an axe sheath brought us into the leather-working world. Through weeks of practice and research, we learned that using the right materials and the correct techniques, the items we were creating could last a lifetime. Over the next year and a half, we expanded beyond axe sheaths and created our own line of leather wallets, belts, key fobs, and notebook covers.

Years later, we found ourselves living in separate states and missing the camaraderie we shared in the old workshop.

We met up again in the summer of 2014 and embarked on a two-week road trip from Iowa to California. It was on that trip that we decided to return to our roots and open a brick and mortar shop in Des Moines.

Once a space opened up in Des Moines' Historic East Village, we decided to go all in and make that home for Fontenelle Supply Co. We wanted people to have easy access to high quality clothing, accessories and goods that are built to last. With that goal in mind, we started building out our shop.

A short few months later, our retail store officially opened in November of 2016. We stocked our shop with our handmade leather goods and tried and true staples from brands that share our values and passion for high-quality, sustainable American manufacturing. Keeping our roots, the back third of the shop is our workshop where we continue to offer axe restoration and custom leather goods.

Over the years, the company grew and so did the team. Taylor joined us in early 2019 as our in-house graphic designer and we hired Jacob as our full time leatherworker in early 2021. Today, we're a small team comprised of five hard-working individuals who are all passionate about their craft. 

After 5 years of running our little Des Moines shop, we’re ready for the next big leap. Fontenelle Omaha will open in March of 2022.

We have a lot of work ahead of us but we cannot wait to open our second store in the city where it all started!