Our Materials

Ethical & Responsible Leather Sourcing

At Jordan Grigsby Designs, craftsmanship and integrity go hand in hand. Every product I create is built from carefully selected leather sourced through responsible and ethical channels. I believe customers should feel confident not only in the quality of the product they carry, but also in how the materials were obtained.

Respect for the Animal

Many traditional leathers—such as cowhide—are by-products of the food industry. Using these hides allows the entire animal to be utilized rather than wasted.

Some of the unique materials I occasionally work with are considered exotic leathers, including hippopotamus, shark, giraffe, and elephant. These materials are not sourced casually or irresponsibly. In many cases they come from regulated wildlife management programs, controlled harvesting, or animals that were already harvested for other purposes.

Responsible use of these materials ensures that the animal is honored by making full use of the hide rather than allowing it to go to waste.

Wildlife Management & Conservation

In certain regions of the world, wildlife populations must be actively managed to protect ecosystems, farmland, and local communities.

Animals such as hippos and elephants, for example, can sometimes become problem animals—damaging crops, threatening villages, or disrupting ecosystems when populations grow beyond sustainable levels. In these situations, wildlife authorities may authorize controlled management actions.

In other cases, animals may be harvested for meat or other essential uses, and the hides become a by-product of that process. Rather than discarding these hides, they can be responsibly tanned and used in leathercraft.

Programs like these are often part of broader conservation and wildlife management efforts, where regulated use of natural resources helps fund habitat protection, anti-poaching enforcement, and local conservation initiatives.

CITES Compliance

Many exotic leathers fall under the protection of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).

CITES is an international agreement between governments that ensures global trade in wildlife and wildlife products does not threaten species in the wild.

All exotic leathers used in my products are sourced through suppliers that follow applicable wildlife regulations and CITES requirements when necessary. This means:

• Materials originate from legal and documented sources
• Trade is regulated and permitted where required
• Suppliers follow government wildlife management policies
• Tanneries and distributors maintain traceability and compliance

These regulations help ensure that the use of exotic leather supports responsible wildlife management and conservation rather than illegal or unsustainable practices.

Trusted Tanneries & Suppliers

I source leather from reputable suppliers and established tanneries that specialize in high-quality materials and operate within legal and ethical frameworks. These suppliers maintain documentation verifying the lawful origin of the materials they provide.

Craftsmanship That Honors the Material

Each piece is handcrafted in small batches with the goal of creating durable goods meant to last for years—or even generations.

When working with rare or exotic materials, honoring the value of the hide through thoughtful craftsmanship is especially important. My goal is to create timeless pieces that make the most of every material used.

Questions About Materials

Transparency matters. If you have any questions about the materials used in your product—including the origin of specific exotic leathers—I’m always happy to share more information.

Thank you for supporting responsible sourcing, conservation-minded practices, and handcrafted leather goods.