How it all began
Story
PERSISTENCE founder, Kay Lewicke, started on a traditional career path, armed with a computer science degree and a position at a Fortune 500 company.
As a creative outlet, she began sewing handbags in her home office. One day, Kay came across a piece of leather that she sewed into a simple tote bag. Delighted with the results, her passion for leather was born.
Over the years, Kay kept dreaming of building her own brand where she could flex her creative skills, but it wasn’t until she found herself unexpectedly at a crossroads in 2020 that the time was right. The rest of the story is still unfolding.
What's in a name?
PER·SIST·ENCE
[PƏRˈSISTƏNS] noun
1. The quality of not giving up until you succeed.
When starting the brand, Kay used the mantra, “Nothing replaces persistence.” New to the handbag and leather industries, she encountered many obstacles, but persistence was the key to success.
2. The continued or prolonged existence of something.
Persistence embodies a commitment to expertly crafting each piece to last a lifetime. PERSISTENCE bags wear beautifully over the years, earning character and patina to tell a unique story with understated style.
Commited to a few simple things
Values
Sustainability. Using vegetable tanned leather that is minimally processed and doesn’t rely on toxic chromium salts in the tanning process.
Heritage quality. Using high quality vegetable tanned leather that wears beautifully over the years and heritage construction techniques to create pieces that last.
Small batch production. Keeping design and production in-house, from start to finish. Making to order to reduce waste.
Enduring design. Creating modern classics that withstand the test of time and stay relevant through quickly changing trends.
Thoughtful consumption. Offering consumers a way to embrace the idea of owning fewer things, but choosing them wisely.