Where We've Been

Fontenelle Supply Co. started as a way for a group of friends to be a part of each other's lives. It all began in a basement in Omaha, Nebraska. Our Tuesday night hang-outs went from playing pool and drinking cheap beer to turning Asher’s basement into a workshop and unknowingly starting a business that would get us to where we are today. 

It started out as an axe restoration hobby, pure and simple. It was a way to hang out on the weeknights and teach ourselves a timeless craft.  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. 

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.

We wanted people to have easy access to high quality clothing, accessories and goods that are built to last. With that goal, our retail store officially opened in November of 2016. Our shop is stocked 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, our list of clients continues to grow. As a result, we were able to hire Jacob as our full time leatherworker in early 2021.

We could not be more excited about the future of this little shop. It's fair to say that the only reason we are still here is because of the amazing customers and clients we've picked up over the years. Keep your eyes open on Sunday. The five of us are ready to share the next step of Fontenelle with you.