Will Leather Goods (WLG), an Oregon-based leather brand that specializes in men’s and women’s handcrafted bags and accessories, is now open in Detroit’s Midtown, the company’s first location in the Midwest. The grand opening announcement was made by William Adler, company founder, CEO and creative director, who is a native Detroiter.

The new, 9,000-square-foot retail experience store is located in Midtown at 4120 2nd Avenue, in the former Tomboy super market building. The WLG Detroit location will feature vintage and new belts, bags, wallets, home goods and hats priced between $45 and $1,200, and all WLG products do come with a lifetime guarantee. In addition, there's also the WLG Coffee Station and Robert Adler Community Art Gallery, which features rotating shows from local- and nationally-recognized artists and photographers. The Gallery’s first show will feature noted 1960s American fashion and celebrity photographer, Mark Shaw.

Every purchase from Will Leather Goods guarantees to go a long way, literally - not only do the handcrafted items carry Will's signature quality, they will also contribute to Give Will, Will Leather Goods' social initiative. Founded on the belief that every child deserves a bag to carry their dreams, Give Will is a program designed to support students in underfunded public elementary schools across America through in-kind backpack donations. Adler, whose philanthropic mission is central to the company’s culture, designed a capsule collection of backpacks especially for the program, and each colorful bag features a space for students to write both their name and their dream, to act as a reminder to keep working toward their goals. Over the next five years, WLG has committed to donate 500,000 backpacks across the U.S. To mark the opening of WLG’s Detroit location, Give Will will make a donation to every student at Adler’s grade school alma mater, Vernor Elementary School, and to every student at all Cornerstone Schools in every grade, K - 12.
--
Adler, who was born and raised in Northwest Detroit, selected his hometown to round out his growing company’s 2015 retail portfolio. The Detroit store joins New York City and three WLG locations in Portland, Ore., as well as a hometown store in Eugene, Ore. and a flagship location in Venice Beach, Calif., with plans to open soon in San Francisco. 

Will Leather Goods is open daily from 7AM-7PM. For more information and to see their holiday specials, make sure to visit them at www.willleathergoods.com.

Thank you to Monica Cheick and PublicCity PR for having me at the press event!