Pretty Good Dan

The Pretty Good Company was founded in October of 2016, about half a year before I started working for HOMAGE. HOMAGE had become one of my favorite brands after buying my first t-shirt from Sole Classics in 2009 (For All Mankind - if you know, you know). Little did I know that I would end up working for HOMAGE and Sole Classics at two separate times, linking together this tight knit community of High Street Champions.

I quickly became enthralled in the story telling of HOMAGE and what it meant to translate moments into a soft, vintage style t-shirt. Ryan Vesler and I became a humanlike white board, full of info and ideas to steer the crowd in a direction seldom taken. That vision of "the story is the sales point" was it. And that's how it remains. My passion for handmade goods started young while following my dad around when he was doing odd jobs and building decks. I vividly remember standing too close to him while he was hanging our new mailbox to our house at the age of 9 years old. He catapulted his left arm back with hammer in hand, accidentally striking me with the claw on my forehead. I didn't cry, rather, I was shocked at what happened. "See, you're too close, you gotta watch from an angle" was his tough love advice. It has stuck with me for 20+ years.

Being somewhat of a serial hobbyist, The Pretty Good Company was founded with basically no true direction other than knowing I wanted to make things by hand. My friend Phil and I messed around in the garage for months, making everything from coasters, to bed frames with good ol' construction grade lumber (not that there's anything wrong with that). Prior to, I dabbled around with some leather and cheap tools I purchased from a local leather shop. The first wallet I made was terrible (my mom still carries it, go figure), but I was instantly drawn to the amount of patience it takes to make quality goods by hand.

Fast forward to 2020; leather working has become a constant in my life. You never truly master the art of your hobby because you can be humbled by any small mistake. In turn, you gain patience and understanding of why rushing things isn't going to yield the best result. Slowing down and respecting your craft, your time and your determination is a trade off that can be translated to any facet of life. The Pretty Good Company isn't about perfection. It's about being curious and accepting yourself as you are while continuing to get better at challenges.

-Dan