Blog

At Orox Leather Co., we believe the secret to a timeless product lies in the materials we choose. Every piece we create starts with exceptional leathers, carefully sourced from eco-friendly tanneries in Italy and the US. From the rich Waxy Leather to the supple Soft Leather, the classic English Bridle Leather, versatile Oil-Tanned Leather, and dynamic Pull-Up Leather, each type has its own unique characteristics.

In this blog, we’ll explore the distinctive qualities of our leathers, including pebbled textures, water repellency, and scratch resistance. We’ll dive into how our leathers develop a rich patina over time, showcase stunning marbling effects, and adapt to custom molding, bringing both strength and durability. Whether you’re drawn to the vintage appeal of our wallets or the classic look of our bags, you’ll see why Orox’s commitment to quality and craftsmanship sets our products apart.

Join us as we take you behind the scenes of our leather selection process, share the stories behind our materials, and highlight the artistry that makes each piece an Orox original.

 Soft Leather

Soft Leather is known for its light pebbled texture and natural color, offering the perfect balance of flexibility and strength. Sourced from eco-conscious tanneries in New York, it’s ideal for unique designs that combine elegance with practicality.

Our craftsmen appreciate its versatility, carefully cutting each piece to maintain strength while ensuring it stays soft and pliable. Soft Leather adapts to your needs, providing both comfort and structure. It’s featured in special edition collections and is the material of choice for our popular Luna Bag, where its luxurious feel and vibrant colors are showcased in a sleek, innovative design. This leather is perfect for those seeking a product that balances elegance with everyday functionality.

Waxy Leather

Oil Tanned Leather

Treated with oils for water-resistance and a unique marbling effect, Oil Tanned Leather is scratch-resistant and easy to maintain, making it perfect for everyday use. Its soft, pliable texture allows our artisans to craft durable pieces that age beautifully, developing a rich patina over time.

Handcrafted in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, this leather carries a legacy of American craftsmanship. Featured in our classic bags and wallets, Oil Tanned Leather combines comfort, durability, and timeless style that only improves with wear.

 English Bridle Leather

English Bridle Leather is a thick, vegetable-tanned material known for its smooth finish and exceptional strength, making it perfect for belts, keychains, and other durable products. Sourced from eco-friendly tanneries in the U.S. and Mexico, it reflects the best of US Leather craftsmanship.

Our artisans shape this leather into strong, precision-cut pieces that soften and flex with use, without losing their structure. Featured in our 1 1/2" Classic Belt, keychains and coasters collection. English Bridle Leather is a staple, prized for its scratch resistance, vintage appeal, and lasting quality.

Pull-Up Leather

Pull-Up Leather is known for its color-changing properties, revealing lighter shades when bent or stretched, creating a marbled effect that gives each piece a unique look. Its buttery softness and dynamic texture make it a favorite for smaller accessories, like wallets, that mold to their contents over time.

Crafted by skilled artisans in León, Mexico, this leather adapts beautifully to the user’s lifestyle, developing a personalized patina with use. Featured in our wallet collection, including the Traveler’s Bifold, Pull-Up Leather’s marbling and heat-activated properties truly shine in these items

 The Orox Commitment to Quality and Craftsmanship

Every type of leather we use is chosen for its distinctive qualities, designed to bring out the best in our products and provide a lasting experience for our customers. Whether you’re looking for a rugged, everyday bag or a refined wallet, our leathers are crafted to meet the highest standards of durability, style, and artistry. Explore our collections and discover the Orox difference—crafted to last a lifetime and beyond.

Hola hola, amig@s!

Guess what? We've got some exciting news to share with you all! If you haven't heard already, we were recently featured on the latest episode of PLACES TO LOVE with Samantha Brown, showcasing the vibrant small businesses of our beloved Portland, Oregon!

We couldn't be more thrilled to have been part of this fantastic celebration of our city's unique charm and entrepreneurial spirit. It's truly an honor to stand alongside other local businesses, each adding their own special flavor to the rich tapestry of Portland life.

For those who haven't caught the episode yet, we highly recommend tuning in. Samantha Brown does an incredible job of capturing the essence of our city, from its quirky neighborhoods to its thriving small business scene. And of course, we're beyond grateful for the spotlight she's shone on us and our leather goods!

Broadcast Information:

Locally, the episode began airing this past Thursday, February 8th, at 5 pm on both KOPB and KTVR. To find out when and where the show is airing in your area, you can visit samb.tv/watch and enter your zip code.

Online Availability:

The episode is already available on Samantha's website and the PBS app. Or you can watch it here!

So, grab your favorite cozy blanket, make yourself a cup of tea (or coffee, if that's more your style), and settle in for some heartwarming exploration of our wonderful city. Whether you're a Portland native, a frequent visitor, or simply curious about what makes our community tick, we promise you won't be disappointed.

And to all of you who have supported us along the way – whether by purchasing our handmade leather goods, spreading the word about our business, or simply stopping by to say hello – we want to extend a massive THANK YOU. Your support means the world to us, and it's what keeps our small business dreams alive.

Let's continue to uplift and celebrate our local community, one episode at a time. Together, we can make Portland an even brighter, more vibrant place to call home.

Stay cozy, stay curious, and keep spreading that Portland love!

Con amor,
The Martinez Family

Fall is here! As this new season starts, we want to welcome it with a few leather goods recommendations that will be perfect for chillier weather.

We believe in legacy. We believe in craft. And we believe in products that last forever.

And we want to help you avoid that rush of holiday shopping & fast fashion, and instead, help you spend some time putting thought into choosing quality gifts for the quality loved ones in your life, including handmade bags, wallets, belts, and so much more. We have something for everyone.

Our family & staff are happy to give you all the attention you need, plus free delicious refreshments to make your experience unforgettable. For extra peace of mind, each product comes with a lifetime warranty.

Thanks so much Portland Monthly Magazine for featuring our new Luster Leather Collection in their Fall Fashion 2019 Stories! Fun fact: Our Jacqueline handbag (The Green/Emerald one in the photo below) was inspired by two very strong women: our beloved founding Matron and Mother, Jackie Martinez, and fashion icon/former First Lady of the United States, Jackie Kennedy ❤️

Check out the entire Luster Leather Collection here and please also give POMO's blog post a scroll for a full list of other amazing shops and accessories.

Thanks as always for your support, Orox Leather family!

Hiking in the Rain in Olympic National Park
The Olympic Peninsula is famous for its stunning greenery- huge ferns and mossy boulders and huge trees. Simultaneously, it's famous for its rain. The perfect place to test the waterproof-ability of the rucksack. Not only did it hold up supremely well to the wet (just look at that beading!) but it dried off really quickly too. After a couple of hours of meandering in the woods, I came upon this old ranger station, which made for the perfect dry resting spot. It was too easy to grab a bar out the front pocket and use the pack as a backrest. So multipurpose! 

Is it summer yet? Sunshine and snow at Mt. Rainier National Park
A classic sign of springtime- warm, sunny afternoons amidst patches of snow on the ground. Hiking in this season can be tricky- layers come on and off with the changing weather- it can be hard to get it just right. The nice thing about the roll-top access to this bag is that it's easy to get in and out of, but also expands or shrinks to fit my needs! So when I take that down puffy off for the third time, it's no sweat to stuff it in and get back on the trail. 

Central Oregon Desert- Smith Rock and Skull Hollow Camping

Springtime in the desert is absolutely the best. That fresh smell of sagebrush, the warm, bright sun, the muted and subtle colors. It makes for a great contrast to the wet, gray west side of the mountains. And encourages lots of casual, restful hanging out in hammocks, by fires and at picnic spots under the cliffs at Smith Rock. Of course, I took the Parva with me to carry the guidebook, the sunglasses, and a cool drink. Its rugged charm and simple design made it a popular conversation piece- such a nice way to make friends!

It's not every day that a small family-owned business gets picked up for a story in a big newspaper! We are thrilled that Travel Portland has worked together with the San Francisco Chronicle to write an article about spending a day in Portland, indie business style.

It's an honor be highlighted as a company that represents Portland, the indie spirit, DIY, and craftmanship. Thanks San Francisco Chronicle and Travel Portland for supporting us! We are included in a list of awesome local businesses doing great things for our community. Here's to the makers, the do-ers, the builders, the creators, the hand-crafters of the world.

https://www.sfchronicle.com/travel/article/One-Day-One-Place-Portland-through-its-indie-12730097.php

 Photo by: David Alvarado