A.E. McAteer

A.E. McAteer emerged from the founder's background in furniture restoration and cabinet making, evolving from custom furniture work into a focused practice of creating handmade leather goods and footwear. The company's approach emphasizes quality materials, attention to detail, and built-to-last design principles, reflecting McAteer's philosophy that products should be made to endure rather than become obsolete.

Andrew McAteer, a fifth-generation New York tradesman, established A.E. McAteer Design in 2013 after developing expertise in furniture restoration and design. His background includes apprenticeship with a carpenters union in Virginia, specializing in cabinet making and antique restoration. McAteer's family heritage of craftsmanship, combined with foundational skills gained from his father's woodworking and his mother's gardening, informed his approach to creating quality handmade goods.

After completing his carpentry apprenticeship, McAteer began making his own furniture and was eventually recruited for a campaign furniture company. His work with campaign furniture, which utilized leather straps and canvas slings, provided direct exposure to working with leather and textile materials. This experience with materials beyond traditional woodworking sparked his interest in leather crafting and eventually led to experimentation with bags, belts, and other leather accessories.

The transition from furniture making to leather goods occurred organically as McAteer explored the possibilities of leather as a primary material. His first significant retail opportunity came through an unscheduled meeting with a buyer from Freeman's Sporting Club, the Lower East Side menswear store. McAteer brought a handmade bag he had created to the store, and this impromptu presentation resulted in his first order and established an ongoing retail relationship.

A.E. McAteer operates from a studio in Queens, New York, where Andrew McAteer works as a one-man business, maintaining direct control over every aspect of design and production. The studio is located in the basement of a Queens apartment building where McAteer also serves as the building's superintendent. This unconventional workspace reflects the company's artisanal approach and commitment to hands-on craftsmanship.

The production model emphasizes individual attention to each piece, with McAteer personally executing all designs from conception through completion. The company's output focuses on creating products that meet specific quality standards rather than maximizing production volume. This approach allows for careful material selection and detailed execution of each handmade item.

A.E. McAteer's product range includes handmade footwear, wallets, leather accessories, and decorative metal objects. The footwear collection features handcrafted shoes and loafers, with specific models including the Handsewn Loafer and Horse Bit Loafer. The company's footwear construction requires significant time investment, with individual shoes taking between two to three hours to complete, contributing to a total production time of two to three days per pair.

For footwear construction, McAteer crafts shoes using wooden lasts that he whittles himself, demonstrating traditional shoemaking techniques adapted to contemporary production. The company sources premium materials including thick Ridgeway soles imported from England, the same soles used by established bespoke cobblers such as Edward Green. This material choice reflects the company's commitment to durability and quality in construction details.

The company's leather goods extend beyond footwear to include bags, belts, and wallets, all created using traditional leather working techniques. Metal accessories and decorative objects round out the product offering, showcasing McAteer's skills beyond leather crafting. Each product category demonstrates the company's focus on functional design executed with attention to construction details.

A.E. McAteer's design philosophy centers on problem-solving through craftsmanship. The company originated from McAteer's personal frustration with being unable to find products that met his standards, leading him to create items himself. This practical approach evolved into a broader mission to offer customers durable, beautifully designed goods that fulfill specific functional needs.

The company prioritizes three core principles in product development: quality materials, attention to detail, and built-to-last design. Rather than pursuing fashion trends or rapid production cycles, A.E. McAteer focuses on creating products designed for longevity. This approach reflects traditional craft values applied to contemporary product design and consumer needs.

Operating as a small American business, the company maintains a philosophy of continuous improvement. McAteer actively refines designs based on everyday use, treating product development as an ongoing creative process rather than viewing designs as finished upon initial completion. This iterative approach allows for gradual refinement while maintaining consistency in quality standards.

A.E. McAteer products are sold directly through the company's website and stocked by specialty boutiques in locations including New York City, London, and Tokyo. The international distribution network reflects the brand's appeal to customers seeking handmade goods with traditional construction methods. The company's placement in curated retail environments aligns with its positioning as a premium handmade goods brand.

The brand's connection to Freeman's Sporting Club, established through McAteer's initial retail relationship, helped introduce A.E. McAteer products to a customer base interested in traditional menswear and artisanal goods. This retail partnership provided visibility within New York City's menswear community and contributed to the brand's reputation for quality handmade accessories.