Everything Erik used to create was made up of ones and zeros and ceased to exist when electricity wasn't available. J.Stark was born from this troubling reality. "I had the desire to create tangible goods by hand with a focus on sourcing material from the United States as much as possible," says Erik, founder of J.Stark.

Derek Keller was searching for a pair of leather suspenders when he founded 440 Gentleman Supply. "I could not find what I was looking for," he says, "so I decided to try to make it myself." One item led to another, and before he knew it, 440 Gentleman Supply was in business.