Ezra Arthur, a leather goods brand, claims their products are “designed for life.” While the tag line seems exaggerant, upon arriving at their Phoenix headquarters, I can tell the message is authentic. Its office has all the original trimmings of a 1920s warehouse; as I soon learn, the warehouse is one of the oldest buildings in the city. Ezra Arthur was founded in 2012 when Sebastian Sandersius decided to abandon his career as a postdoctoral fellow at Caltech. Sandersius, who had previously studied the mechanical processes of fruit fly embryos, had a natural disposition for details. “I was a scientist,” he says. “The technical aspects of designing and production are natural interests for me.”

Sandersius wanted to use his attention to detail to create stylish products that could sustain beyond one lifetime. So, Sandersius set out to make products whose quality would pay homage to vintage goods. “I decided to name the company after my grandfather, a World War II veteran, because he represents somebody who was really dear to me.” The brand, which is known for its leather goods, wallets and belts, marries old with new. Sandersius pays homage to his grandfather’s vintage finds owned while modernizing the design to accommodate modern needs.

The technique Sandersius uses on his products also stays true to traditional methods. The products are created by hand, with the help of vintage machines. As Sandersius explains, “The majority of our product lineup are hand-stitched. While it’s slower and more expensive to do, it looks nicer and it’s a lot easier for someone to learn because it’s one stitch at a time.”

Sandersius scoured Craigslist to track down older machines in working condition. His timing couldn’t have been more perfect. As he began his search in 2011, old-school manufacturers began to go dark due to more cost-effective innovations in production processes. As a result, tons of traditional machines flooded the internet marketplace. “We were able to build our factory with very little capital investment in those early days because there was an abundance of machinery from job unemployment,” Sandersius says. “We were very motivated to create new jobs and help revitalize manufacturing. It’s still important to us today. As a business owner I don’t mind paying extra for products, having a higher price point and making an impact in my own community. It started out as a family business—and it still is.”

Since Ezra Arthur’s founding, Sandersius has stuck to a business model which is centered around family values. Sandersius runs the company with the help of his four brothers and outlying family members like his cousin Christina, who manages production. Each brother takes on various tasks around the country, with Sandersius at the helm of the design work alongside his youngest brother, Julian. Sandersius handles the technical aspects of design, while Julian brings the artistry. His two middle brothers, Gabriel and Adrian, support with production and sales with the help of their wives. “On a daily basis, we have about seven or eight employees.” As a result, each product gets the undivided attention rather than passing through dozens of hands in the process of being crafted.”

As the company has grown, they have begun to branch out in new directions: bags, stationary and bracelets, are all a part of their new wave of offerings. As is their selection of leather cases for shaving equipment. Not just any shaving equipment though. Ezra Arthur focuses on shaving gear which was created long before any of the Sandersius brothers were born: safety razors, straight razors and classic razor strops are some of the highlights.

True to form, everything at Ezra Arthur is made with the highest caliber leather (Horween, Latigo and Cordovan to name a few) and equipped with solid brass screws and hand-stitched details. Despite this sense of refinement, the products are still attainable. “We are not trying to be luxurious,” says Sandersius. “We are trying to establish excellence.”

We previously sold one or more of these products and earned proceeds from any such sales.