Artisan Sourcing & Design Partnership
In 2007, a muddy-booted bag designer sat in a cafe in the mountains of northern Vietnam and scribbled one line in his notebook: collaborate with artisans worldwide for meaningful consumer goods at scale.
Fifteen years, 500+ artisans, five countries, and +175,000 customers later, I've built what people told me was impossible: an artisan supply chain that really works at scale. Now I'm bringing it to your brand and CSR initiatives.
Artisan
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Textiles
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Bags
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Accessories
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Home Goods
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Apparel
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Artisan + Textiles + Bags + Accessories + Home Goods + Apparel +
Collaboration Opportunities
End-to-End Artisan Supply Chain Management
From the loom to your shelf.
Picture a Guatemalan backstrap weave on your next tote, Ghanaian kente on a limited-edition jacket, or Indonesian batik cushions in your home collection. I make that happen. Working hand in hand with our weaving, embroidery and batik partners, I co-design textiles for your brand and manage every step after that: sampling, production, quality control and delivery.
What you're really getting is trust. These relationships were built in person, over shared meals and long days on the road, and that's what keeps quality high, timelines honest and the artisans fairly paid. You get beautiful, traceable materials and an impact story that holds up to any scrutiny.
Bag & Accessories Design
Handmade soul. Technical muscle.
I've spent 20 years designing products for 3M, Crumpler, Booq, Barebones, Dryfter, Raqett, and for my own brand Ethnotek. Along the way, I figured out how to marry soft, hand-loomed cotton with waterproof technical fabrics, something other designers told me couldn't be done. It's now my specialty.
Whether you need a single hero product or a complete collection, I'll take it from napkin sketch to tech pack, prototype and production-ready sample. I design for your customer and your price point, and I make sure it holds up on the trail, the commute, and life’s many adventures. I bring serious skill and a lot of fun to the process, and I'll get you to production on time and on budget.
Ethnotek Strategic Investment Partnership
Own a piece of the story.
For partners who want to go further, there's the brand itself. Ethnotek got calls from REI and Urban Outfitters two weeks after launch, and it has since built a loyal global community. Now we're inviting a small number of visionary partners to own and grow it in new regions.
Partners take on the regional brand rights, order direct from our artisan and factory network at full margin, and inherit existing retail accounts where they exist. I stay on as your founder partner, adapting the line for your market, running the supply chain and helping you launch new brands on the same foundation.
Selected regions are currently available. Let's talk.
May your dinner parties at home be a story of your artisan support and good taste.
“I can fully and enthusiastically recommend Jake’s work. I have been in the consumer product industry for over 40 years and Jake is by far the most talented Soft Goods designer I have ever worked with. His attention to detail, knowledge of components and people skills are simply outstanding.”
Robert Workman
CEO - Barebones Living, Socially Responsible Sourcing Group, Goal Zero, Cricut
Get In Touch
If you're interested in working with the artisans, our manufacturing partners in APAC, and I, complete the form with a few details about your project. I'll review your message and get back to you as quick as I can.