Our Story

Nineteen Thirty-Eight was born from family, tradition, and a belief that the things made by hand are often the things we treasure most.

Our name honors our father, Henry A. Walker, II, who was born in 1938. Long before entrepreneurship became a buzzword, he lived it every day. He was always looking for opportunities, building relationships, and finding ways to create something meaningful. He believed that success came from hard work, perseverance, and treating people with respect. More importantly, he showed us that building a business meant creating a legacy that we could pass from one generation to the next.

That lesson stayed with us.

The inspiration for what we make today, however, began with the women in our family.

Our grandmother and mother taught us how to sew and quilt when we were young girls. Some of our fondest memories are sitting beside our mother around the quilting horse, learning to guide a needle through layers of fabric one careful stitch at a time. Those afternoons were never just about making quilts. They were filled with conversation, laughter, family stories, and quiet lessons about patience, pride, and taking the time to do something well.

Without realizing it then, we were learning a craft that had been passed from one generation to the next.

Quilting has a long and meaningful history. Originally, quilts were created out of necessity, using pieces of worn clothing and leftover fabric to make something both beautiful and practical. As the craft evolved, quilts became more than bed coverings. They became keepsakes that marked weddings, births, milestones, and family history. In many African American families, quilting also became a way to preserve heritage, express creativity, and transform everyday materials into lasting works of art. Every quilt reflected the hands that made it and the stories those hands carried.

That tradition continues to inspire everything we create.

At Nineteen Thirty-Eight, every handbag, tote, quilt, and textile piece reflects the same values we learned as children—care, craftsmanship, and attention to detail. We believe handmade pieces have a character that cannot be duplicated. Every stitch represents time, skill, and a commitment to quality.

While our designs reflect today's lifestyles, they remain rooted in yesterday's traditions. We are proud to blend timeless craftsmanship with modern style, creating pieces that are both functional and distinctive.

For us, Nineteen Thirty-Eight is about more than handmade goods. It is about honoring where we came from.

It is a tribute to our father, whose entrepreneurial spirit taught us to dream, build, and never be afraid to create something of our own. It honors our grandmother and our mother, whose patient hands introduced us to a craft that has connected families for generations. Their influence lives on in every piece we design and in every customer who makes our work part of their story.

When you bring home something from Nineteen Thirty-Eight, you are bringing home more than a handcrafted product. You are sharing in a family tradition that began decades ago around a quilting horse and continues today through every stitch we sew.

That is our story.

And we are honored to share it with you.