About
The Story
Jackalope Trading Company is a small boutique offering accessories, home goods, and gifts. Born to showcase our creations, we now offer a thoughtfully curated selection of products made by local artists and other companies who share our mission and values. We celebrate the time, intention, and care that overflows from every handcrafted piece that lines our shelves.
Jackalope Trading Company is dedicated to bringing you exquisitely crafted, yet approachable goods that will enrich your personal landscape.
Our inhouse leather line, Jackalope Milk is made right here in Door County, Wisconsin in our little studio. We are proud to offer high quality, affordable, and sustainable leather accessories that will last a lifetime. Each piece is finished with intention and care, melding detailed, fine-crafted design with a functional, minimalistic aesthetic.
The Jackalope Saga
One of the rarest animals in the world, the Jackalope is a cross between a now extinct pygmy-deer and a species of killer-rabbit, they are extremely shy and sometimes rumored to be extinct. However, occasional sightings of this unusual creature continue to occur, with small pockets of Jackalope populations persisting in the American West.
Tempted with whiskey and cowboy song, a gentle handed woman may be allowed to milk the Jackalope.
Jackalope milk is the cure of all ailments and the elixir of life.
Leather - the process, sustainability, & care
In a world of fashion and materials, Sage was drawn to leather for its true sustainability and durability. “I wanted to create functional art through materials that would last a life-time, pieces to be handed down generation to generation”.
The Process
The quality of our goods are only as good as the quality of the materials we use. Each hide is hand picked to ensure color, texture, and pattern is just right for each item. Leather will always carry the marks of the life the animals led - bumps, bruises, and stretch marks are the badges of time.
In our studio, we cut our pieces by hand to avoid large scars and minimize wasted material. We use offcuts to make our smaller items and keep working to create new things to avoid as much waste as possible.
The rivets, snaps, zippers, and all the other pieces of hardware that adorn the bags are solid cast brass - a material that will patina and age just as the leather will. Moving to only use solid cast hardware means that it costs us a little more to produce our goods but we can feel more confident that they will last longer and the color won’t wear off.
Each piece is truly made by hand - stitched one at a time in our Wisconsin workshop. The edges are painstakingly hand beveled, sanded, and burnished. And each detail is obsessively inspected before it reaches your hands where you finish the process with your use.
Sustainability
Our leather is hand-picked by Sage from Seidel Tanning in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. It is an incredible privilege to have one of the nation’s last tanneries in our state. And we are proud to purchase our leather from Seidel, a fourth-generation, family owned business with a commitment to excellence and environmental sustainability. Most of our material sourced from Seidel is “mill end leather”.
Mill end materials are the excesses and mistakes from large production runs. Hides that have imperfections or aren’t quite the color ordered will be cast off. We sort through the reject piles to find those gems that will be given a second chance in our studio instead of going to waste.
It is no secret that the livestock industry has a huge impact on our climate. But leather is a by-product of the meat and dairy industry, cattle are not being raised for their hides alone. It can break down in a landfill, unlike plastic-based leathers and fabrics. And our USA produced leather is ethically produced, adhering to strict environmental and labor policies.
For all of those reasons, we believe leather is a sustainable choice for your wardrobe. We design pieces that we hope will remain classic for years to come and we produce them to last just as long. Your leather bag will grow in character with age and patina over time. Marks and slight changes in color are expected and a badge of a long and adventure-filled life.
Leather Care
Rather than wearing out, full grain leather will naturally condition with use, developing a much sought-after patina and unique character over time. Your leather goods will be stunning when you use them for the first time, and only increase in beauty every day, becoming something you will treasure for a lifetime.
To make sure your leather accessories last as long as they should, avoid getting them soaking wet and store them in a dark, low moisture spot.
High humidity can cause the leather to get mildew spots - but don’t freak out! Mildew and mold can be cleaned off of leather with diluted rubbing alcohol or a leather specific detergent. To
remove stains, use a damp microfiber cloth and large circular motions to ensure that the all-over color and texture of your bag will remain consistent. Avoid rubbing aggressively in one spot as it can create a shiny and darkened area. And it is always best to do a test spot on a less visible part of your bag before you start on the whole thing!
Dry climates can make leather dry and crack over time. If you notice your leather goods hardening in some areas or lightening in color, it may be time to apply some leather conditioner. We like lightweight leather creams - they have less oils in them and won’t change the color of your bag as much as some other options. But in general, natural oils from your hands and frequent use will keep your bag conditioned enough. We don’t use leather conditioners often!
Fur on Hide Care
Fur on hide is a specialty material that requires more careful treatment than our standard leather goods. It should also be noted that shedding is normal and we consider those signs of wear to be a badge of a well-loved purse with a beautiful patina. But if you prefer the pristine look, save your bag for those special occasions.
To reduce any shedding, handle your piece with the care deserved of a best friend. It won’t be a lover of moisture or dramatic temperature change and it doesn’t get along with tightly woven nylon fabrics (like puffy winter jackets).
Do not use rubbing alcohol to clean fur on hide! A moist cloth and mild, diluted detergent can be used to clean dirt and spills. Be careful with alcohol based products around your bag, such as perfumes and hairspray. They can affect the integrity of the fur and cause more shedding. Protective sprays made specifically for suede can be applied to the fur to help prevent stains and shedding but please follow the manufacturer’s instructions and always test on a small, less noticeable area first!
FAQ
\\
Lead Time & Rush Orders
Our leather goods are made by hand, one by one. Most items are cut and sewn to order and leave our studio within 2 weeks of your purchase (unless noted in stock, ready to ship). If you need a rushed order, please contact us before placing your order to confirm that we can accommodate your request.
Rarely, some products may have a longer lead time because of their bespoke nature or supply chain delays. If this is the case with your purchase someone from our team will contact you via email ASAP with an updated timeframe.
All other products will be shipped within 2-5 days of purchase.
Returns & Exchanges
If an item is received damaged or otherwise in error, please email us and we'll work with you to make it right immediately.
We want you to be thrilled with your purchase. As a small business, if you have any issues with your order we would love the chance to make it right. If you need to process a return, please send us an email! We accept returns within 14 days of delivery, subject to a 15% restocking fee. Shipping charges are not eligible for refund.
To be eligible for a return, your item must be in the same condition that you received it, unworn or unused, in its original packaging.
To start a return, please contact us at jackalopemilk@gmail.com. Once your return is accepted, we will send you instructions on how and where to send your package. Items sent back to us without first requesting a return will not be accepted.
Personalized items (including custom goods) & international orders are FINAL SALE. Unfortunately, we cannot accept returns on sale items or gift cards. Please get in touch if you have questions or concerns about your specific item.
Exchanges will not incur a restocking fee. Email us and we will be happy to assist in getting you exactly what you were looking for!
*Please note: Custom , monogrammed, and sale items will not be eligible for return or exchange.*
Damages & Repairs
If an item is received damaged or otherwise in error, please email us and we'll work with you to make it right immediately.
For the original purchaser, we gladly guarantee our bags material and workmanship for a lifetime. Repairs that are generally covered by our lifetime guarantee include broken hardware, ripped seams, and manufacturing mistakes.
We hope this bag will see as many adventures as you do. If your bag needs a repair after being caught in an elevator door or being hoisted above a mosh pit, get in touch and we’ll try to get it all fixed up for you for a small fee. Email us at jackalopemilk@gmail.com to start the process.
Shipping
All orders are shipped via USPS or UPS, and we offer a local pickup option. If you would prefer an alternate or faster method of shipping, please contact us prior to ordering to make arrangements for the extra shipping charge. Please note that all of our orders are made by hand and subject to a 2 week lead time.
When your order ships, you will receive a shipping confirmation with tracking information for your package.
Please note that we are not responsible for lost or stolen items once they have been shipped, so please be considerate when choosing a shipping method. Please contact us if there is a problem with your delivery and we will try our best to work with you to resolve the issue.
Product Disclaimer
Please be aware that leather is a natural material. Slight discoloration, scratches, or change in texture may be visible and are the marks of nature on the animal that once lived in that hide. These small inconsistencies in your leather should not be considered a defect but rather add to the beauty and uniqueness of your bag.
Keep in mind that before an item is made, each hide is inspected. We aim to provide the best looking piece of leather to create your bag while reducing the amount of waste per hide.
Fur on Hide
Fur on hide is a piece of art. Each one is as unique as the animal it came from. Variation in color and pattern is to be expected. It should also be noted that shedding is normal. To reduce any shedding, handle your piece with the care deserved of a best friend. It won’t be a lover of moisture or dramatic temperature change and it doesn’t get along with tightly woven nylon fabrics (like puffy winter jackets). We consider signs of wear to be a badge of a well-loved purse with a beautiful patina. But if you prefer the pristine look, save your bag for those special occasions.