We’re Matt and Tricia — a husband-and-wife team building Grove Valley Goods out of our small shop on Main Street in Villa Grove, Illinois.

Every belt, wallet, and keychain starts at our workbench. We cut, stitch, and finish everything by hand — no machines, no middlemen. Just the two of us and the tools we can carry. We only make about 15 belts a day, because we won’t cut corners. Gear leaves our shop ready for long days, hard jobs, and real life.

But leather is just the beginning. Our vision is to build a full workwear brand — gear, apparel, and everyday carry made the same way we started: honest, small-batch, and built to outlast the jobs they’re worn on.

The reason behind all of it? To shine a light on the trades. Too many young people are told the only path is a degree and a mountain of debt. We know better. Trades aren’t a backup plan — they’re a foundation. They create pride, stability, and opportunity without the chains of student loans.

This brand is our story: small town roots, American craftsmanship, and gear built to last. But it’s also a flag planted for a bigger cause — showing high school kids (and their parents) that the trades are a future worth choosing.

If 40 hours sounds like a short work week to you, if you believe in building instead of borrowing — you’re our kind of people.