Clint Wilkinson Bio

Clint Wilkinson grew up amidst leather and tradition—his grandfather, Weldon Burgoon, opened Weldon’s Saddle Shop & Western Wear in downtown Denton, Texas, back in 1957. Clint spent his childhood under the saddle shop’s dusty lights, absorbing stories, learning seamwork, and discovering the scent of old leather—an atmosphere he now carries forward through his craft. As a sixth-generation Texan, his roots in craftsmanship run deep.

But Clint didn’t step into the family business immediately. He pursued a creative path—thriving in digital media, the motocross industry, and design—that left him successful but restless. Then, in 2013, his path came full circle when he returned to his grandfather’s workbench. Working with leather was, in Clint’s words, “like a zen type of experience,” and it reconnected him with the traditions that shaped his family and his identity.

That return home sparked something deeper—Clint decided to launch his own brand, Bell & Oak, named after the corner of Bell and East Oak where the family shop stood. From there, his journey evolved into Wilkinson’s Fine Goods, and later, his namesake Clint Wilkinson label—an intentional move to center legacy, craft, and the man behind it all.

Clint’s process is rigorous and intentional. Working in the same corner his grandfather once occupied, his techniques honor traditional craftsmanship—he uses Japanese-made tools, French thread, European and American leathers, and he hand-sews nearly every piece himself. His work has included everything from one-off commissions to collections for institutions like the George W. Bush Presidential Library.

(Weldon Burgoon, Clint's grandfather)

But craftsmanship isn’t the whole story. Clint describes running the family legacy as a calling, one where he aims to be “one of the best craftsmen in America,” grounded in Denton and true to his roots (We Denton Do It, D Magazine). Even as he innovates—like developing the more accessible Bell & Oak line, manufactured in Texas under his guidance and design—the underlying priority remains the same: legacy, quality, and integrity.

Today, the Clint Wilkinson label represents more than fine leather goods. It embodies the spirit of Western heritage elevated through timeless design—pieces made to be carried, lived with, and passed down for generations.

Philosophy & Craftsmanship

For Clint Wilkinson, craftsmanship is more than a skill — it’s a responsibility. Each piece that carries his name is built with the belief that true quality should outlast trends, wear, and even generations.

His philosophy is rooted in three values: integrity, patience, and permanence. Integrity means every wallet, bag, or accessory must be made with uncompromising attention to detail, never cutting corners. Patience means slowing down in a fast world — every stitch, edge, and cut is guided by deliberate hands. Permanence means creating goods that tell a story, gathering character with age rather than losing it.

Clint works almost entirely by hand, using time-honored tools, saddle stitching techniques, and the finest leathers sourced from both Europe and America. Each design is pared down to its essential form — functional, refined, and built to improve with use.

The result is more than a product. It’s a piece of Western heritage elevated through timeless design, crafted to be carried, lived with, and passed on.