Saddleback Leather, Co. is developing a leather-built headquarters and museum in Azle, Texas, with a planned showroom opening in Spring 2027. The project will also include an attempt at a Guinness World Record centered on the scale of the leather construction. The announcement comes as the company continues to expand its line of durable leather goods and its humanitarian work.
Founder Dave Munson started Saddleback in 1999 while volunteering as an English teacher in southern Mexico. He couldn't find a bag rugged enough to carry his books, so he sketched his own design and commissioned a local leather craftsman to make it. When people repeatedly stopped him to ask where they could buy one, Munson turned the design into a business. His original vision was a bag so durable and timeless that future generations would fight over it, captured in the company slogan, “They'll Fight Over It When You're Dead.”
The company designs and builds leather goods including briefcases, bags, backpacks, travel gear, wallets, accessories, and footwear. Products feature full-grain leather, reinforced construction, and a commitment to avoiding unnecessary breakable components. Each item is backed by a 100-year warranty. Customers include professionals, entrepreneurs, frequent travelers, craftspeople, and outdoor enthusiasts. Many become lifelong customers who pass their Saddleback pieces down through generations. The company also serves organizations seeking corporate gifts that communicate quality and lasting relationships.
“We're a people business disguised as a leather bag company,” Munson said.
Saddleback's growth has included several milestones. The company began by selling bags on eBay and later established its own manufacturing operation in León, Mexico, in 2008. By 2009, annual sales reached $5 million. The company launched Love 41, a line of women's leather goods that supports humanitarian work in Rwanda. It expanded into footwear, travel accessories, and women's leather goods. Saddleback collaborated with Toyota on the 2024 Tundra 1794 Edition leather interior and produced officially licensed leather goods for all 30 Major League Baseball teams. Its products have received international editorial exposure, including in National Geographic Traveller UK. Munson's entrepreneurial journey is the subject of his book, They'll Fight Over It When You're Dead, published in 2025.
Those interested in durable full-grain leather bags and goods can view the company's collection online. The product range spans briefcases, backpacks, travel gear, wallets, and footwear. The company's approach emphasizes longevity and function, with designs intended to develop character with age.
Beyond products, Saddleback operates as a people-first company rooted in faith, family, and ethical purpose. The Munson's are developing the Azle headquarters and museum as a physical expression of that philosophy. The planned showroom opening in Spring 2027 will give customers a place to see the leather construction firsthand. The Guinness World Records effort will focus on the scale of the leather building itself.