Meet Henry Piedra | Leather Crafter

We had the good fortune of connecting with Henry Piedra and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Henry, any advice for those thinking about whether to keep going or to give up?
Family is the reason I started my brand and decided to pursue this new goal. My kids give me the drive, push, and purpose to move forward and make this a successful business. Nights are sometimes full of frustration, confusion, and thoughts of giving up, but quitting the 9-5 and having my own business to allow me to be home with my wife and kids give me the push to perfect my skills and keep going.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I would say what sets us apart is the pride in handcrafting small batch high quality full grain leather goods. Our small family owned and operated shop is located just East of Dallas Texas. Where we precisely handcraft and hand stitch every item from start to finish from our smaller items like keychain to our larger made to order handbags, backpacks, and halters. Our designs allude to the more rustic, rugged leather goods but keeping a simple classic look that will last years to come.

We are still in our growing stages so we are definitely learning as we continue to grow. One of bigger challenges has been getting our name and products in front of people. It hasn’t been easy as just posting a picture on social media and thinking that will appear on everyone’s feed. But with the help of our supporters on all of our social media platforms Rugged is getting out all the way to even Canada. We continue to participate at local vendor events and allowing more people to see everything we make in person and rely on word of mouth as our biggest advertisement.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I would invite friends and family in the month of April. Our county host what we like to call “The Hunt County Fair” it includes great food, concerts, carnival rides, & livestock shows. City rodeo’s, bonfires, parades, etc are held all year round.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I’d have to thank God for all the blessings. I have to thank my family. My wife and kids, my brothers and sister, and my parents. They have all encouraged me from day one when I told them I was going to start a leather craft business. I honestly don’t think I would be where I am today without all of their support.

Instagram: https://instagram.com/ruggedtx?utm_medium=copy_link

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Rugged-Handcrafted-Leather-Goods-110588251438818/

Other: TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@ruggedtx?_t=8XWQHyOAddi&_r=1