Jen Lewis shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Jen, a huge thanks to you for investing the time to share your wisdom with those who are seeking it. We think it’s so important for us to share stories with our neighbors, friends and community because knowledge multiples when we share with each other. Let’s jump in: What are you most proud of building — that nobody sees?
What I’m most proud of is the inner architecture I’ve built over years of trial & error. A quiet resilience that doesn’t need to shout. It’s the ability to keep showing up creatively & with integrity, even if no one is watching, applauding, or buying.
It’s the systems I’ve created to support others well. Structures for care, not just efficiency. The values I return to when things get messy. The way I’ve learned to pause, reassess, & pivot with purpose instead of panic.
You don’t see that on a website or a product label, but it’s the foundation everything else is built on.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Hi! I’m Jen Lewis, founder of Purse & Clutch, a Certified B Corp partnering with artisans around the world to create dignified jobs through intentional design & ethical production. We focus on small-batch leather goods, all handmade by incredible craftspeople earning fair wages in supportive environments.
Lately, one of the most exciting parts of our work has been helping boutiques & mission-driven organizations create custom branded bags that reflect their values. It’s a way for our partners to offer something beautiful & meaningful while directly supporting artisan communities. These collaborations are rooted in deep respect & transparency, and they allow us to grow the impact of ethical fashion in a way that feels truly personal.
This September, I’m leading a small group of women on a trip to Ethiopia to meet the leather artisans we’ve worked with for years. We’ll see firsthand how our bags are made, hear directly from the people making them, and explore what it means to engage with fashion & travel more consciously. It’s not about checking off a destination; it’s about connection, creativity, and a shared commitment to doing things differently.
Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. What’s a moment that really shaped how you see the world?
In 2016, I traveled to Ethiopia for the first time to meet the leather artisan team we’d recently started partnering with. I’d been running Purse & Clutch from the U.S. focused on ethical production, fair wages, and creating meaningful work, but seeing it all in person shifted something fundamental in me.
I sat across the table from the artisans. I watched their hands shape each bag with care. I walked through the workshop, met their families, and saw how real and tangible our impact could be when it’s rooted in relationship. What struck me most wasn’t just the beauty of the craft, it was the mutual pride. Their pride in their work. My pride in sharing it. It reframed how I saw global business, not as charity or aid, but as partnership and possibility.
Since then, everything I’ve built has been filtered through that moment. The realization that this work is not just about products, but about people. That trip changed how I buy, how I lead, and how I understand my place in a much bigger story.
Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
Every April, without fail, I want to quit. Something about that time of year, maybe it’s a lull in sales, the weight of all the behind-the-scenes logistics, the pressure of doing things the right way in a world that rewards cutting corners, or limited childcare, but it all feels like too much. Running a business where every decision is filtered through ethics, sustainability, and people-first values is deeply meaningful… and also exhausting. It can feel like an uphill battle with no clear finish line.
But then May comes. And something shifts. A message from a customer who gets it. A new order that supports an entire artisan workshop for a month A moment where I remember why I started this in the first place. I catch my breath. I remember that slow, thoughtful business is supposed to feel different. And I keep going.
I’ve learned to expect the April crash & trust the May reset. It’s part of the rhythm now. Not a sign to quit, but a cue to rest, reset, & recommit.
Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. Whose ideas do you rely on most that aren’t your own?
One of the most enduring influences on how I run my business is the book Small is Beautiful by E.F. Schumacher. His ideas about “economics as if people mattered” gave language to things I had been feeling for years. That scale isn’t always the goal, that growth for growth’s sake can be harmful, and that small, thoughtful, human-centered systems are not only viable, but necessary.
I return to his ideas often, especially when I feel pressure to chase conventional success metrics. They remind me that sustainability, dignity, and connection can’t be rushed or mass-produced & that staying small can actually be an act of wisdom, not limitation. His thinking is baked into the DNA of Purse & Clutch, from how we structure artisan partnerships to how we approach custom branding & even how we pace ourselves as a team.
In a world that often shouts “bigger, faster, more,” his quiet insistence on “enough” is something I deeply rely on.
Okay, we’ve made it essentially to the end. One last question before you go. When have you had to bet the company?
Honestly, I’m betting the company right now. My youngest daughter Paige, who has Down syndrome, will be starting kindergarten not this year but next, & we’re planning to move to a part of town where she’ll have access to the kind of inclusive, supportive education she deserves. Where she’ll be seen, challenged, & given the best chance to thrive.
But that move comes with a much higher cost of living. And so I’m taking big swings with Purse & Clutch. Leaning into growth, expanding our custom branding offerings, & stretching in ways I’ve never had to before. It’s scary. But it’s also clarifying. I know exactly why I’m doing this.
I’ve always believed that building a business rooted in dignity & fairness can support more than just artisans around the world. It can support the kind of life I want to create for my own family, too. So this season feels like a leap of faith. Betting on my daughter, betting on my business, and betting that doing things the right way will lead somewhere good.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.purseandclutch.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/purseandclutch
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenlewis/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/purseandclutch
