Our History
As long as I can remember, I have been an independent soul, doing things my way and having a hard time agreeing with authority. That independent streak has always brought me back to working for myself instead of working to make someone else’s dreams come true. Oh sure, I’ve worked for other companies here and there, but I’ve always decided to move on after feeling suffocated and uncreative.
In 2019, what started as a hobby making wallets and notebook covers (and hand turned pens!), became an official business when I started up an LLC right here in Maine. Things were going great until the pandemic shut down the world. What a strange few years were ahead for me and this little business I was building. Despite the ups and downs, I always had a consistent dream for The Acadian, one that would see both worldwide distribution for the company’s products, and a return to the greatness of Main Street U.S.A.
It always made me sad to see empty storefronts on what very obviously used to be grand Main Streets in towns I’ve seen across the country. Big Box stores ruined those places, and I think that’s a great injustice for a country that prides itself on capitalism and independence.
As my business grew, so too did my dream to bring a store to main street and manufacturing jobs to the U.S. Here is what that looks like to me.
One of the first steps is getting a few more pieces of equipment to both help with specific tasks in the bag making process, as well as expand our product line.
Two new industrial sewing machines will allow for quick, efficient production and for more than one person to be working at a time. They will also allow us to make new types of cases and bags that are difficult to make on a normal sewing machine.
I’m also looking to get a bell skiver. This is a leather working machine that basically sands of the edges of a leather piece so that it can be folded over to form a hem, or joined together with another piece of leather. While it’s a relatively simple machine, it’s also indispensable in a leather workshop.
One of the more important pieces of equipment is a clicker press and cutting dies. The press is essentially a large plate that presses down with incredible force onto the cutting dies that rest on a piece of leather. These sharpened steel dies then cut the leather into the shapes needed for each part of a leather product. Perfectly repeatable and standardized parts come out, leading to incredible efficiency in production, and consistent products from one item to the next.
Recently, I purchased a diode laser to help with some of the more tedious parts of production. This 20 watt laser allows me to cut incredibly detailed pieces for many of the products, using a number of different materials. I can also do custom engraving on the leather, allowing for a more personalized product. Corporate or wedding gifts, anyone?
Speaking of gifts, have you ever seen a beautiful leather folio engraved with a company logo? How about a custom made wallet with the wedding date engraved into it? Those are both things that The Acadian can now do thanks to our XTool D1 Pro laser cutter/engraver.
I’ve always loved seeing classy, high end gifts like these sitting on a rich mahogany desk or on the head table at a wedding. These gifts show high regard for guests and dignitaries, a respect and gratefulness that is hard to show with most other items.
This is an exciting new offering from The Acadian that I know will catch on quickly.
When you hear wholesale, you probably think big boxes of stuff from Costco. But what wholesale really means is the ability for small shops around the world to stock the handmade goods you’re really searching for when you’re out shopping on Main Street.
The Acadian has had product available for a few years now in small shops around the country, and we’re proud to offer this again to retail stores. While it’s still just me producing everything, my goal is to round out this aspect of the business with another sewist who can help move the production process forward.
As The Acadian has grown, so too has the type of product we offer. In the beginning I was offering small leather goods and hand turned pens. Now, our focus is more on heirloom everyday carry products, as well as bags, cases, totes, and more in both leather and canvas.
With this shift in focus comes the need for a brand update. I’ll be working with a local brand expert who has some amazing credentials to bring The Acadian up to date with its shifted purpose.
One of my most ambitious goals is to open up a brand new retail store on a main street here in Maine. This goal has me out looking at buildings in downtown areas that will fit my vision for a combination of retail shop and workshop.
In this workshop and mercantile, we will produce many of the products you see on the shelves right there in the back, allowing you to actually see the products being made. You’ll also be able to customize products right there in-store and have it ready for you when you return. We’ll carry not only our goods, but a variety of complementary dry goods that fit the rugged, outdoorsy, everyday carry vibe that The Acadian has come to be known for.
Since the 1980s, companies have shifted their production facilities overseas to cut back on costs and increase company profits for the elite few at the top. Since then, we’ve seen the demise of U.S. based manufacturing, the rise of low quality fast fashion, the death of Main Street U.S.A., a dearth of trade jobs, and a generation of workers who don’t know how to make things anymore.
I don’t blame the workers. They had no choice in the matter. But we, as business owners, do have a choice. And you, as a consumer, have a choice too. Together, we can bring Main Street back, bring U.S. manufacturing back, and still keep prices manageable and affordable. But it will take support and commitment from both of us. Small, local businesses have the unique opportunity to hire and train a new generation of skilled craftspeople who can make high quality goods that will last a lifetime.
I firmly believe that we never truly stop learning. That’s why training will be a key component to The Acadian’s future. From master craftsman to apprentice, everyone will be trained in their specialties, as well as in general operational and manufacturing practices. We will partner with the Manufacturing Association of Maine and Maine Manufacturing Extension Partnership to build on our company’s ability to be competitive in today’s market.
I also have plans to partner with local colleges, universities, and technical schools to bring paid interns to the shop. That way, they can gain valuable real world insights into U.S. based manufacturing, while making a contribution to the success of The Acadian.
The future looks bright for The Acadian, whether it remains a one man workshop in a basement or a multi-member community of makers and dreamers. Whatever path I take with the company, none of this happens without the support of our loyal customers who spread the word and make The Acadian the best stop for heirloom leather and canvas goods.
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