Meet Mark Aguilar of The II

Mark, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
The II (The Second) is an independently owned luxury leather goods company based out of Houston, TX and was founded by myself, Mark Anthony Aguilar. The II was named to remember our son, hence The II, as he passed away in 2017.

To dive in deeper, my wife Alyssia and I were expecting twins during their second pregnancy. Due to certain complications, they were born at only five months gestation or within five months of Alyssia being pregnant. Mark Anthony and Selena were born prematurely as micro-preemies weighing 1lbs 14oz each. Due to their early arrival, they were expected to remain in the hospital until they were somewhat fully developed to that of a normal term baby. Sadly, Mark Anthony passed away after only 16 days in this world due to a water-borne infection, causing Sepsis to take over his body. Within hours the virus took a hold of his body and passed away on July 23rd, 2017.

This is my way of creating a legacy in a way to honor his life. Coming from a luxury retail environment, I decided to pursue leather crafting as a way to not only commemorate our son but to also live out a creative dream. I have been able to acquire some of the finest, luxurious leathers alongside some of the finest tools. All while also using age-old techniques still used to this day by notable fashion houses such as Hermes, Louis Vuitton, and Goyard. The reason why I chose to work with luxury is due to the quality and the standards of the craft that will uphold my representation of memorializing my son’s legacy.

Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
When choosing to pursue a leather craft, you will notice quickly, in my opinion, how difficult it is to become a self-taught leather artisan. Trying to perfect and understand the entire process when solely using your hand to create the entire piece. Also learning where to properly acquire exotic animals that were ethically sourced, high-quality leathers, and supplies to uphold the standards that I wanted to meet. By investing in better quality supplies, financial restraints have certainly come up. So making sure you are purchasing the correct items is a must as the tools and machines, materials, and leather all add up very quickly.

Please tell us about The II.
First off, I am proud to have found a craft that allows me to create while also being able to remember my son. I specialize in fine-leather goods, ranging from wallets, belts, and watch bands. What sets me apart from other leather artisans, is the passion behind my craft. I believe that luxury goods can be a part of anybody’s daily lifestyle, especially in such a diverse state such as Texas. Being a native Texan, I have been able to create items that are inspired by our cities but more importantly allowing clients to create unique pieces of their own. With The II, I can create items that can’t be found anywhere else. For example, clients can request a Black Alligator wallet, with red interior card slots, a black border trim, and white stitching. The details of this wallet give it dimension, contrast, and a unique aesthetic. My passions allow my craft to uphold luxury standards that can be seen in other notable designer pieces.

Do you look back particularly fondly on any memories from childhood?
Gowing up with a large family consisted of countless get-togethers and endless memories. Now, as an adult, I cherish even more so having them support my dreams and passions. Being a father of two little girls, it is now my job to instill the same family values in them. I love that my girls will also have countless opportunities to be around family and also create endless memories.