Lakota Leathers was founded in 2008 by Kenny Bohling of Sevierville TN. In 2025, the daily operations were handed over to Caty and Robbie Fox, Kenny’s daughter and son-in-law. With the help of their young son, Lakota Leathers is primed to carry on with the same quality products into the next generation and beyond.

It all started after hearing Marty Stuart's song "Three Chiefs" on our local radio station WDVX, in Knoxville TN. The song tells the story of three of the great Lakota Sioux Chiefs of the past. After hearing the song, Kenny purchased the Badlands CD on which the song can be found. The song inspired Kenny to make his first trip to South Dakota with a load of used blankets from local motels to help the impoverished people of the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation near Rapid City South Dakota.

After seeing firsthand the poverty of the reservation, Kenny wanted to do more to help. Realizing that he had owned an American Bison hide banjo strap for over 25 years, Kenny knew that the Lakota people could make these fine straps.

What started as a dream, and straps being created on dining room tables, has grown beyond our imagination into a successful small business and a reliable source of income and support to the Lakota People we have met along the way. Although we have outgrown their tables, they take pride in hand crafting and braiding both our flat and round braided mandolin straps on the reservation.

Years later, Lakota Leathers is known for producing what we consider to be the softest, strongest, and most supple guitar, banjo, mandolin, resophonic guitar straps, and other leather goods that can be found in retailers across the United States as well as several other countries!

Thank you for your continued support of our business and for giving us the ability to make a difference in the lives of individuals and families on the Pine Ridge Reservation. As we continue to grow and adapt, we hope to make a greater impact and reach even more Lakota People.