William Ward started working with leather when he was 11 years old, as a way to pass the time while growing up on a 6,000-acre farm in Clewiston.

Now, at age 19, he’s building his own leather crafting business, Hawk Wing Leather Co. He makes all his goods by hand; no power tools involved. “I’ve always had an entrepreneurial mindset,” he says. “Why not make a business out of something I love?”

Hawk Wing Leather makes everything from belts to wallets to even some more distinctive custom creations, such as diaper bags or Croc straps. One of his most popular items is the leather feather. It started from a custom request from a hat maker, who wanted to incorporate a bit of leather into her designs—but numerous people have bought one to hang on their motorcycles or display on their Thanksgiving tables.

Ward has traveled the state selling at street fairs and craft shows, and sells on Etsy, as well, but his goal is to one day have a retail shop where he could craft and sell. He recently made the move from rural central Florida to Fort Myers. “It was a bit of a culture shock,” he says, “but it puts me closer to my customers. It’s a better place to grow my business.”

He said his goods are the antidote to the cheaply made, quickly worn-down products found at big box stores. And he’s found that there’s a demand from people who are willing to pay a little bit more for the durable, handcrafted goods he makes. “I really like creating something that isn’t just mass-produced; it isn’t so disposable,” he says. “I really like creating something that lasts.”