Gruene Leather wasn’t born out of comfort or success — it came out of the ashes. There was a time in my life when everything I thought was solid cracked right under my feet. A marriage I fought for fell apart. My home, my credit, my sense of stability… it all took hits. I lost things you don’t just “move on” from. And I’ll be honest — it damn near broke me.

I’m a veteran. I’ve stood in tougher places than most people ever will. But some battles don’t happen overseas — they happen in your own home, in your own mind, in the quiet moments when no one’s looking. When addiction tries to take the wheel. When grief shows up out of nowhere. When the weight of being a father, a provider, a man trying to pick up the pieces almost feels too heavy to hold.

Somewhere in the middle of all that, leathercraft walked into my life like a hand reaching down into the mud saying, “Get up. One more time.”

My workbench in New Braunfels, Texas became more than a place to make things — it became where I found myself again. Cutting, stitching, shaping… it slowed my mind and gave me something real to hold onto when everything else felt like sand slipping through my fingers. I rebuilt my confidence the same way I rebuilt a wallet — slow, steady, and with intention.

This shop is the proof that rock bottom isn’t permanent. It’s the proof that a man can lose almost everything and still claw his way back with his bare hands and a little grit. Every item I make carries a part of that journey — the struggle, the rebuild, the lessons, and the pride that comes after standing back up.

So when someone buys from Gruene Leather, they’re not just getting a handmade product. They’re getting a piece of my comeback. A piece of the story of a veteran, a father, and a man who refused to stay down.

This is a small shop. Just me, my tools, and the steady heartbeat of New Braunfels, Texas in the background. But every order, every customer, every “thank you” — it keeps this second chance alive.

Welcome to Gruene Leather — where everything is hand-built, everything has a soul, and every piece proves that broken things can be rebuilt stronger.