Our Core Values
Take Personal Ownership
We take great pride and personal ownership of not just every product we make, but in HOW they are made. We want every customer to love their products as much as we do, that's why we never take shortcuts, honor our commitments, admit when we can do things better and correct it.
Succeed at the Expense of No One
There is more to success than just the bottom line. For the 50+ families we work with, we will never compromise their well being for a profit margin and ensure each one receives fair pay with benefits, training opportunities, and safe working conditions. Their success is our success and your success.
Be Good Stewards
This beautiful earth we inhabit is not our own and we have the ultimate responsibility of making sure it stays beautiful for future generations. We go to great lengths – and pay higher production costs – to ensure our practices and suppliers meet strict environmental standards, processes and certifications.
Our Commitments
We started John Candor to make the best of the talents God gave us, have the freedom to pursue our passions and provide good paying jobs for our local communities so they can do the same.
We pay higher prices to get better handpicked raw materials. Our leather goods will last you for years to come and include our 3 year warranty.
For regular men just like us who want to look good without breaking the bank.
Our certified leather tanners incorporate on-site water treatment plants that recycle, purify, and reuse the water needed for the curing and tanning process. Any unused water is returned to its original source in an even cleaner state.
our Story
How We Got Here
Our company was born in DFW, Texas by two friends, one who grew up in Japan and the other in Colombia with his Christian missionary family. One served in the US Army and the other is a former police officer. We're simple regular guys who want to share God's love and help our communities while enjoying our freedoms, new adventures, sharing good food, playing soccer on the weekends and talking about new leather goods.
As life long users of leather goods we found most fell under one or more of the following: bulky thick heavy leather, overpriced, lacking functionality, cutting corners on raw materials, and lastly poorly made. Sometimes I wonder if the product designers even use their own products. At John Candor we design our products and select raw materials in person based on feedback from everyone and our own personal use. For the final step we work with small family businesses with decades of experience that employ some of the best artisans in their local community.
How did we find them? On one trip to Colombia we discovered 3rd generation leather artisans using time-honored craftsmanship and rich materials to create exquisite leather products. What did we do? We partnered with them!
But we also discovered real-life challenges small family businesses in Colombia face following decades of civil war, narcoterrorism and COVID-1 pandemic. We are fully committed to supporting Colombia's economy with our business and other post conflict community-building initiatives while we build a brand that we and you can be proud to be a part of. This is why we picked the name Candor for our brand. Unfortunately, that domain name was already taken, so we put my name in front of it and got – John Candor
We love what we do and hope you love our leather goods too. And become life long customers while forcing all of those around you to do the same. :)
Best,
John
candor /n.
straightforward honesty or
sincere expresssion
Helping You Put Your Best Foot Forward
John Candor is a straightforward, honest, and sincere expression in how we run our business and bring our products to life.