Shinola’s John Truex: “It’s all about American made, by American leather and American craftsmen.”

It is probably safe to say that Detroit-based watch, leather goods and jewelry company Shinola solidified its place in the leather goods industry three years ago when the brand welcomed John Truex and Richard Lamberston as co-design directors of leather accessories. With more that 30 years of accessory design experience including their own Lambertson Truex company, and a successful stint at Tiffany & Co, the duo is seeking to retool American style once again with a collection of casually refined handbags, totes, wallets and accessories for consumers who equate quality with luxury, this time at Shinola.

You can now find their designs in two additional Shinola boutiques that opened in Chicagoland this September — in the Gold Coast and Oak Brook, respectively. We caught up with Mr Truex during his visit to Chicago last month and talked Shinola’s continued expansion, designing timeless pieces in a trend driven market and what brought him to an all-American brand like Shinola.