About
Awl Made Here was started in 1994 on the beautiful island of St John in the US Virgin Islands. Now located in (also beautiful) Southport NC, it has remained a strong & steady leathercraft business for over 30 years.
Sole owner & proprietor Tracey Keating tackles all aspects of the business: website updates, answering phones, responding to emails & texts, ordering supplies, shipping packages, and of course, the making of her leathergoods. The production takes place in her private home studio where all items are completely handmade. From the first steps of pattern making, to choosing & cutting the hides, to the placement of hardware and the final stitches, all items are made and treated with care.
Most pieces are made to order. ALL pieces are made to endure! Check out the testimonials to endurance on the Reviews page.
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Owner/operator/craftswoman Tracey Keating: "At its start, Awl Made Here was a small workshop and tiny storefront next to Skinny Legs Bar & Grill in Coral Bay (on St. John). Knowing nothing about owning a business but falling hard for leatherwork (and encouraged by my fellow "Coral Bayers"), I gave it a shot. As I learned the how-to's of working with different leathers and various tools, the business began to grow at a nice, comfortable pace... and it's kept me busy ever since! In the very beginning it was mostly pamphlets & books and “figuring it out” as I went along because those were the pre-world wide web days and online searches were non-existent... can you imagine?! Seventeen years later, I closed the storefront (in 2011), and Awl Made Here moved through the next phases in the life of a biz. An online presence was established, a "store on wheels" for a short time, a relocation to North Carolina, and now: vending at outdoor markets & festivals, selling in stores, and of course: custom orders and online sales."
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CHEERS to everyone that have helped to keep Awl Made Here alive!
Stay In Touch! You can follow Awl Made Here on social (FB & IG), visit the blog, & sign up for the monthly newsletter by scrolling down on the homepage.
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PICS
AWL MADE HERE AT ITS START, ST. JOHN USVI,1994 (+)
THE AWL MADE HERE MOBILE LEATHER STORE, Coral Bay, St. John:
Oak Island
Southport
Ocean Isle