The Bag That Started It All

Our first bag needed to have a name as special as our mission. The Grant was named after Julia Dent Grant, wife of General Ulysses S. Grant. She was the ultimate definition of what it means to be a military spouse. Grant, who eventually became First Lady, supported her husband and their family during the toughest times.

She was separated from her husband as he served in the Civil War, a time where communication was slow, where the instant-gratification of phones lines and the internet were still decades away.

Our co-founders knew that we needed a name that embodied strength in our first bag, and we found it in Mrs. Grant.

We created The Grant with a goal to incorporate all it means to be a military spouse – or, member of the “silent ranks.” Their lives are hectic enough, so the bag had to be simple. But it also had to be just like the spouses themselves: refined, authentic, strong and bold.

Now retired, The Grant was one of our best-selling bags for several years. Its size and features made it versatile, as it could be used as a gym bag, diaper bag, camera bag, beach bag or for otherwise everyday use. 

For our customers, the bag is like finding that one perfect pair of jeans: comfortable, yet stylish and simplistic. 

At its core, The Grant propelled R. Riveter’s mission to provide portable income to military spouses. Just like with our current Signature Bags, each Riveter has their own role in putting together our bags. By the time they get to our customers, these bags have been through the hands of approximately nine to twelve military-spouse Riveters. 

Our Signature bags' parts and pieces have seen the mountains of Colorado, the sandy beaches of Florida, the beautiful Cherry Blossoms of Washington state and the rocky hills of Tennessee.

To this day, the end result is a truly one-of-a-kind, American handmade product.