Fall is here! As this new season starts, we want to welcome it with a few leather goods recommendations that will be perfect for chillier weather.

We believe in legacy. We believe in craft. And we believe in products that last forever.

And we want to help you avoid that rush of holiday shopping & fast fashion, and instead, help you spend some time putting thought into choosing quality gifts for the quality loved ones in your life, including handmade bags, wallets, belts, and so much more. We have something for everyone.

Our family & staff are happy to give you all the attention you need, plus free delicious refreshments to make your experience unforgettable. For extra peace of mind, each product comes with a lifetime warranty.

Thanks so much Portland Monthly Magazine for featuring our new Luster Leather Collection in their Fall Fashion 2019 Stories! Fun fact: Our Jacqueline handbag (The Green/Emerald one in the photo below) was inspired by two very strong women: our beloved founding Matron and Mother, Jackie Martinez, and fashion icon/former First Lady of the United States, Jackie Kennedy ❤️

Check out the entire Luster Leather Collection here and please also give POMO's blog post a scroll for a full list of other amazing shops and accessories.

Thanks as always for your support, Orox Leather family!

Hiking in the Rain in Olympic National Park
The Olympic Peninsula is famous for its stunning greenery- huge ferns and mossy boulders and huge trees. Simultaneously, it's famous for its rain. The perfect place to test the waterproof-ability of the rucksack. Not only did it hold up supremely well to the wet (just look at that beading!) but it dried off really quickly too. After a couple of hours of meandering in the woods, I came upon this old ranger station, which made for the perfect dry resting spot. It was too easy to grab a bar out the front pocket and use the pack as a backrest. So multipurpose! 

Is it summer yet? Sunshine and snow at Mt. Rainier National Park
A classic sign of springtime- warm, sunny afternoons amidst patches of snow on the ground. Hiking in this season can be tricky- layers come on and off with the changing weather- it can be hard to get it just right. The nice thing about the roll-top access to this bag is that it's easy to get in and out of, but also expands or shrinks to fit my needs! So when I take that down puffy off for the third time, it's no sweat to stuff it in and get back on the trail. 

Central Oregon Desert- Smith Rock and Skull Hollow Camping

Springtime in the desert is absolutely the best. That fresh smell of sagebrush, the warm, bright sun, the muted and subtle colors. It makes for a great contrast to the wet, gray west side of the mountains. And encourages lots of casual, restful hanging out in hammocks, by fires and at picnic spots under the cliffs at Smith Rock. Of course, I took the Parva with me to carry the guidebook, the sunglasses, and a cool drink. Its rugged charm and simple design made it a popular conversation piece- such a nice way to make friends!

It's not every day that a small family-owned business gets picked up for a story in a big newspaper! We are thrilled that Travel Portland has worked together with the San Francisco Chronicle to write an article about spending a day in Portland, indie business style.

It's an honor be highlighted as a company that represents Portland, the indie spirit, DIY, and craftmanship. Thanks San Francisco Chronicle and Travel Portland for supporting us! We are included in a list of awesome local businesses doing great things for our community. Here's to the makers, the do-ers, the builders, the creators, the hand-crafters of the world.

https://www.sfchronicle.com/travel/article/One-Day-One-Place-Portland-through-its-indie-12730097.php

 Photo by: David Alvarado

Here at Orox, our Oaxacan heritage is extremely important to us. One of our most beloved traditions is Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead). On this day, October 31st, people throughout Mexico celebrate by praying for and remembering the friends and family members that have passed away.

In celebration of this important part of our heritage we have made a new coaster that illustrates the major traditions of Día de los Muertos. The gorgeous image that is stamped on each coaster was created by Martin's cousin at Kinoko Designs.

On Día de los Muertos, Mexicans families will erect an altar adorned with photos of deceased relatives, as well as traditional and personal items. Many of the most common altar decorations are depicted on our coaster. To better help you understand the symbolism present in the coaster we broke it down with this handy little guide:

La Catrina - Depicted in the bottom center of the coaster is La Catrina, an extremely famous cartoon drawn by José Guadalupe Posada. Originally drawn as a satirical depiction of Mexican natives who shunned their heritage in favor of European traditions, La Catrina has become one of the most recognizable symbols of death in Mexico.

Sagrado Corazón - Día de los Muertos itself is a combination of the beliefs of indigenous Mexicans and Catholic influence in the area. Because of this, it is common to see a lot of Catholic imagery used in Día de los Muertos traditions. An example of this can be found to the left of La Catrina. This image is El Sagrado Corazón (The Sacred Heart), which is an extremely important symbol in Catholic traditions.

Cigarrillos Faros and Cerillos Clasicos - It is tradition to adorn a Día de los Muertos altar with a gifts of items important to the deceased. For example, if the deceased was a smoker it is common to put a box of Cigarillos Faros (a traditional Mexican cigarette brand) and Cerillos Clasicos (matches) on the altar as a way to remember and celebrate the life of the deceased. An image of these two items are depicted on the coaster just to the left of the Orox logo.

Molinillo and Chocolate de Agua- On the right side of the Orox logo is an image of a tall ceramic pot and a tooled baton. This is a pot of chocolate de agua and a molinillo. Chocolate de agua is a traditional Oaxacan drink made from boiled water, chocolate, and in some cases spices like cinnamon are added. This drink is stirred using a traditional whisk called a molinillo. The molinillo tends to have beautiful designs and etchings that add style and functionality to the tool.

Pan de muertos and muñecas - Literally translated to "bread of the dead", pan de muertos is a special form of pan de yema, a light, flaky bread made from egg yolks. Pan de muertos is specially reserved for Día de los Muertos traditions. In Oaxacan tradition, pan de muertos contain small doll faces called muñecas that symbolize the souls of the deceased. These loaves of bread are placed in the altar as a gift for the deceased. An image of pan de muertos can be found on the coaster right below the pot of chocolate de agua and an image of a traditional muñeca is just above the sagrado corazón.

Veladoras - Veladoras are small candles that are placed on the altar to symbolize the element fire, religious traditions and as a symbol of remembrance of the dead. Images of veladoras are located throughout the coaster.

 ALTAR DE MUERTOS

 CHOCOLATE DE AGUA Y MOLINILLO

 PAN DE MUERTOS

"LA CATRINA" BY JOSE GUADALUPE POSADA

Our highest aspiration is to make leather goods that last forever and that are forever good. 

Martin Martinez shares some of his favorite places and customs from his recent three week visit to Oaxaca.