Parker Clay // Brittany & Ian Bentley
Ian and Brittany Bentley have created an incredible line of leather goods with a mission of giving back to Ethiopia. In 2011, Ian Bentley and his wife Brittany traveled to Ethiopia to adopt their daughter. They returned to California soon after, but their newfound love for the people, places, and culture of Ethiopia remained with them. The Bentleys relocated to Addis Ababa in 2012, where they began working with vulnerable women, many of whom are forced to turn to exploitative work in order to provide for their families. Ian and Brittany realized that it might be possible to create safe, dignified employment for these women, support local, sustainable industries, and invite the world to celebrate the quality and beauty of premium Ethiopian leather, all through one initiative. Parker Clay was born.
Ian and Brittany leveraged their backgrounds in business development and design, respectively, to create the framework for Parker Clay while living in Ethiopia. Today, Brittany serves as Creative Director, responsible for coordinating the design and development of every product, while guiding the brand to maintain its original vision and commitments. As CEO, Ian has established a factory in Addis Ababa with 200+employees, while shifting the commercial business to the United States through a flagship store, warehouse, and office in Santa Barbara, California.
Their commitment is to make a better bag for a better world, through a brand which is built to showcase the finest Ethiopian leather and craftsmanship, while providing meaningful job opportunities, vocational training, and living wages for at-risk women. As a certified B-Corp, Parker Clay is proud to uphold the highest standard of ethical and sustainable processes in both production footprint and social impact.
Today, Brittany, Ian, and their 5 awesome children reside in their hometown of Santa Barbara, helping Parker Clay reach new heights with their global community. They are the most inspiring family that makes you want to be a better person just by being in their presence.