When Ryan and Jill Valentich first started sewing bike bags in 2010, the goal was simple: make everyday gear better. Ryan, an avid cyclist with an eye for design, bought a sewing machine and began teaching himself the craft. What started as a personal experiment soon became Valentich Goods, an Etsy shop that ships handcrafted gear, reaching chefs and home cooks across the country.
A few years later, an opportunity in Denver changed the trajectory of the brand. While working at Mercantile Denver, Jill was asked whether the couple might be interested in producing aprons for the restaurant. At the time, Denver’s restaurant scene was rapidly elevating, but the uniforms had not caught up. “We had both worked in restaurants and had always hated the generic, standard-issued aprons,” Jill says. “We wanted to make aprons that chefs, servers, and bartenders were proud to tie on.”
That philosophy still shapes Valentich Goods today. Every apron is designed with durability and daily performance in mind. The brand uses heavier-than-standard denim and canvas, along with reinforced cotton webbing ties, materials chosen specifically to withstand the realities of professional kitchens and workshops.
Thoughtful details set the aprons apart. The brand’s signature slanted pocket was designed to make tools easier to reach while working in a fast-paced kitchen, keeping essential items like thermometers and tasting spoons close at hand. “We’re always trying to figure out how to make something more ergonomic,” Jill says. “That small change made a big difference.”
More than a decade later, some of the original Mercantile aprons are still in rotation, softened with time but built to last. For Valentich Goods, longevity is the ultimate mark of good design. “The best pieces are the ones that age with you,” Jill says. “The fabric softens, the pockets break in, and the marks and stains become part of the story.”
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