By: Megan deFabry
Crimson Willow has got you covered if you seek unique, high quality, genuine cowhide and leather handbags and accessories.
Rachel Dake is the power woman behind Crimson Willow. From Missouri, Dake is a wife, a mom to her four year old daughter, Ella, and has worked incredibly hard at building her brand from the ground up.
The western world has always had a place in Rachel’s heart — she was nine years old when Rachel got her first horse. From ten to nineteen years old Rachel participated in 4-H, showings, and different projects. Once Rachel got married, she convinced her husband to get a horse whose barn name was Willow and she’s registered as a red rhone. Willow is the face of the business. When creating the business name, Rachel wanted a catchy name to describe red and after some searching she discovered crimson. From that point forward her business was named Crimson Willow.
The start of Crimson Willow
Rachel started Crimson Willow in 2014 and started by making horse tack. She initially started the business to generate extra money to pay for entry fees to barrel races and vet bills. At the time, Rachel didn’t know Crimson Willow would take off. She was a college student at the time, didn’t have a lot of money but found a way to start buying tools little by little. Rachel taught herself everything she needed to know from books, YouTube videos, and trial and error. She started out with small things like nose bands and then worked her way up.
When Crimson Willow started in 2014 Rachel had also been going to school, finishing up and graduating with her second degree in occupational therapy. Rachel ended up canceling her boards because her mother had passed away from cancer. From there, Rachel turned her career path and decided to put her full focus on her business which consisted of making tack for a couple of years then switched over to only making bags as she loved being able to be more creative with the bags.
Rachel takes a pause
At the beginning of 2017 things took a turn for Crimson Willow when Rachel found out she was pregnant with her daughter. She decided to step away from the business as a result. She sold her tools, and thought she was done with the business.
The rebirth of Crimson Willow
Once her daughter turned five months old in 2018, it hit Rachel that she needed to continue her business. She was upset with herself for letting it go but jumped back into it. With the support of her husband Dustin, they went out and bought another sewing machine. Rachel came back home and got right to work. She had to build her business up again, and it started to grow little by little.
Then Crimson Willow started to grow
She re-started Crimson Willow in her laundry room, and she’d cut leather on their kitchen table. Eventually she moved her work to the basement of their home — taking up the entire space. In 2019 Crimson Willow got a booth at the NFR (National Finals Rodeo) in Las Vegas, NV, where she operated the booth by herself. For a couple years, Rachel worked countless hours on making bags from her home and growing her business. She made it happen while raising her daughter and having the support from her husband. With a lot of hard work and dedication Rachel has taken a leap and moved her business into a big store front and a big shop in Oak Grove, Missouri, where she has put together a small team for this new chapter of Crimson Willow. The store front opened to the public in May 2021. Rachel has come a long way, there were many challenges but she pushed through and never gave up, and her business has taken off.
Design ignited her passion for western fashion
Rachel’s love for western fashion has grown more and more as she started making bags. “Western fashion is what speaks to my soul and it’s what I like. It’s definitely a good fit for me.” Rachel said.
She loves designing her bags with a lot of neutrals, sometimes she’ll add in some pops of color but she sticks with styles and designs in a western flare that can be used for everyday outfits. On some bags you’ll see genuine turquoise and sterling silver, she’ll find buckles or pendants and turn them into a concho.
“I would say my style is kind of playing with a little wow twist,” she explained.
From looking through her grandfather’s old magazine collection to seeing western fashion on social media, Rachel has gotten inspiration from many aspects. But sitting down in the shop and putting leathers together and seeing what works and what doesn’t work is where the magic happens, it’s a lot of trial and error. Rachel is always purchasing new cowhides, leather and materials and focused on the next new idea.
Crimson Willow – made with love
Every bag is handmade with much love.
First, the materials will be cut by the cutter to a size depending on the item. Then the cut materials go to Rachel or her other seamstress to be sewn. Afterwards, the hardware will be put on and then the finishing touches will be added. Each bag design project varies by project size … some taking hours, some taking days.
Crimson Willow has several different style bags available now from crossbodies, totes, runaway, backpacks, round bags, downtown, and saddle bags.
It also features many accessories, including a planner, binder, wallets, and travel bags.
Crimson Willow’s signature bag is the Runaway bag which is offered in three different sizes. It’s a duffle-style bag, but Rachel has modified it to be more western and added a spin to it. She added in the side pockets, fringe, a hard bottom, purse handles, a wide shoulder strap and western leather.
For a majority of the Crimson Willow bags, Rachel finds a regular general sewing pattern and then puts a twist on it that would work with cowhide and leather. She’ll make it more western, more user friendly where it will stand up on its own and you can just reach in and grab your items and go. Rachel likes to come up with a bag style and then offer it in different sizes so that way it fits a variety of different people’s lifestyle.
Looking to purchase an item from Crimson Willow?
The Crimson Willow business is very active on social media, with a majority of its sales occurring on Crimson Willows Instagram and Facebook.
Every Wednesday is Willow Wednesday and Rachel will go live on Instagram at 7 p.m. CST for a live sale for the first three Wednesdays each month.
The last Wednesday of the month are live auctions. Rachel recently started doing the auctions and has been making them even more fun by having a theme each session where she will get dressed up.
Every Friday Rachel does a silent auction on the Crimson Willow Facebook page. If you shop during the live sale or auction, the first who comments claims the bag. From there, you’ll send a message to Crimson Willow with your email and Crimson Willow will send you an invoice. You’ll have 48 hours to pay then the item will be shipped once paid.
Crimson Willow also has a website where bags are added onto the site randomly and you’ll be able to pay directly on the website.
All of Rachel’s current bags and accessories are advertised on both Crimson Willow social media pages to purchase.
Be sure to check out the following sources:
- Crimson Willow’s Facebook, @CrimsonWIllowLLC
- Instagram page, @crimsonwillow_
- Website, crimsonwillow.com.
- Or visit in person at 1204 S Broadway, Oak Grove, MO 64075.
A special note from Rachel
Some advice from Rachel is to don’t ever give up, don’t be afraid to chase after your dreams and take those leaps. Rachel went through many hurdles, she put in a lot of time, energy, determination and dedication to grow her business.
Rachel said, “Crimson Willow has always, ever since I started it, has felt second nature to me and something that I’m supposed to be doing. So, I’ve always found a way to do it. I’m still growing; you know it’s never done. New things are always happening and changing. It’s definitely been a journey, one that I’m happy to be on and very blessed to be on.”
