arts & life
fashion
The new Will Leather Goods will open in Midtown this November.
Will Leather Goods
celebrates a Detroit
homecoming.
Andrea Zarczynski
Special to the Jewish News
he buzz on Detroit is
not what attracted Will
Leather Goods founder
and creative force William
Adler to open his newest store
in Midtown this November.
Will Adler
Leather Travel
Duffle, $795
38
October 1 • 2015
Rather, the global traveler real-
ized that his company's authen-
ticity of product and family cul-
ture were already rooted in the
city where he grew up.
"I realized that the whole
inspiration of Detroit is the
background of my family's pres-
ence in the fashion, retail and
furniture businesses:' said Adler,
who belongs to Temple Israel
in West Bloomfield. "I realized
that Detroit was looking for an
inspired brand, and it has been
so meaningful for me to come
back to Detroit. It's almost a
quest for me now to make this
the most amazing creative store'
The 9,000-square-foot mod-
ern space is planned to offer a
unique retail experience targeted
at Detroit's new generation. Will
Leather Goods will not alter its
identity built on unexpected
materials, unique global artisan
styles and a lifetime product guar-
antee, according to Adler, who
also serves as president and CEO
of Spirit LeatherWorks that now
handles design, manufacturing
and retail of Nike Golf and Tiger
Woods belts and accessories.
"Detroit, the city of grit and
makers, is appreciative of quality
and things inspired by the city's
past:' Adler said. "We respect
designers all around the world and
bring an eclectic mix of worldwide
artisans together in one place:'
Adler is now a third-generation
retailer in Detroit: His father
was a buyer and merchandising
manager for Detroit-based men's
clothier Hughes
& Hatcher, while
his grandfather
managed sales
for the New Center
area's former Saks &
Co., now known as Saks
Fifth Avenue. His brother
Bob served as a sales rep for men's
clothing and owned the Man Oh
Man stores around Metro Detroit.
Adler attended Wayne State
University and earned a bach-
elor's degree in theater from
the Goodman School of Drama
in Chicago. After heading to
Hollywood in the 1970s to pursue
an acting career, Adler, 64, landed
roles in TV shows, including Kojak
and Welcome Back Kotter before
the 1981 Screen Actor Guild's
strike caused him to explore anoth-
er career. He gained experience
working as a product designer and
developer for major leather goods
brands including Columbia, Marc
Ecko and Dockers.
Borrowing inspiration from
the Venice Beach brand Rainbow
Belts that sold during the 1980s,
he made Billy Belts, a business
he sold in 1992, when he and his
wife, Sandra, moved their fam-
ily to Eugene, Ore. There,
they launched Spirit
Leatherworks; the Will
Leather Goods brand
was launched in 2004,
and the flagship
first store opened in
2012, in Venice, Calif.
More retail spaces were
added in New York, and both
Kent Messenger Front, $395
Eugene and Portland, Ore.
Family branch locations oper-
ate across the country from San
Francisco to Miami. Women's and
men's styles as well as pet accesso-
ries can be found
Adler said that his late brother
Bob was the person who most
urged him to open a store in
Detroit. The new eighth location
at Detroit's 4120 Second Ave. will
serve as tribute to the fashion and
retail scene of Detroit's former day
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Huaraches,
$115