Nate's Leather & Suede Salon

Mr. Joseph Kunz began manufacturing leather gloves in 1900 with a small three-person factory located on the near West Side of downtown Chicago. His goals were to manufacture the highest quality leather glove and sell professionals his product for a fair price. Over the past century, our customers still associate the name "KUNZ" as the trademark for excellence in materials, workmanship, and value.Mr. Kunz's first customers were bridge and iron workers who, while building Chicago, would come by "Joe's Place" for a good pair of gloves. In 1921 he moved his company a few blocks away to a new building at 2141 W. North Avenue where Kunz Glove Company operated for the next 72 years. Soon after the move, the company developed a good following from a new group of working professionals "Linemen". As early linemen traveled around the county building power lines they ( "Boomers" as they were called ) spread the word around about the quality and value of the "LINEMENS'" glove from this little company in Chicago.The product line expanded in the early 1930's to include leather protectors for rubber insulating gloves. The practice of gloving higher distribution voltages was becoming a standard for working energized power lines. Early personal protective equipment and safety standards were not in place, like they are today, that insured worker safety. The utility industry turned to Kunz to provide the quality and specialized fit needed to protect the Linemens "First Defense" against electrical shock. Today our gloves are almost exclusively used in the electrical utility industry, providing personal protection to current industry standards.In 1993 the company moved to 2440 W. Hubbard Street. The need for additional space forced the company to move again to its present location on Oakley Boulevard in 1998.Today, we are still only a few blocks away from where Mr. Kunz began manufacturing operations back in 1900. "Kunz" leather work gloves and leather protectors continue to serve the rugged demands of utility professionals. We are a leading manufacture of leather protectors for all classes and styles of rubber insulating gloves available today. The quality and value of our heavy-duty work gloves remains unquestioned. Our products are still manufactured with personnel attention to customer requirements, exceeding industry specifications. "Kunz" continues to be recognized world wide and associated with HIGH QUALITY leather Linemens' gloves manufactured in the USA.