Welcome to Ripstop on the Record. The podcast for makers, by makers. Where we talk about all things Make Your Own Gear (MYOG). You'll hear from gear companies, textile engineers, cottage vendors, and other leaders in the Textiles + Outdoor Gear industry. Brought to you by Ripstop by the Roll.
Making time for making after work | Mark Schatalow
Send us Fan Mail Many of us don't make it to the sewing machine until 8 or 9 p.m., after a full day of work. By then, it's hard to think like a product developer (and even harder to stay creative). Marc Shatalow joins us to share how he balances a full-time job with a growing bag brand, along with the design process, production habits, and mindset that help him keep creating without burning out. In This Episode, We Cover: How to balance a 9-to-5 with a bag company—and why small, consistent progress beats marathon sewing sessions Marc's workflow for designing new bags, from paper models and 3D CAD to finished prototypes Production habits, lean manufacturing ideas, and shop tweaks that save time without sacrificing creativity Honest conversations about pricing handmade work, building products people value, and why following your curiosity often leads to your best designs Listen in and discover why building a successful maker business isn't about finding more hours, it's about optimizing the time you do have. Marc Schatalow | Mrs. Marc Bags Products: Venom™ 200 HPU Tan Merino Wool Jersey Knit Find Us on Social Media 🚀 @RipstopbytheRoll www.ripstopbytheroll.com
How the Pros Build Tech Packs
Send us Fan Mail Great products don't happen by accident. They happen because someone obsesses over hundreds of tiny decisions that most never notice. In this episode, Jenna Lagonigro pulls back the curtain on how professional products go from sketchbook to production line, sharing the design principles, development process, and tech pack secrets that every maker can apply to their own projects. In This Episode, We Cover: How to build your first tech pack Why empathy is the best skill for product designers What professional product developers do to choose fabrics Behind-the-scenes insights from overseas factories and sample rooms Listen in and start thinking like a product developer. The way you approach your next project may never be the same. Guest: Jenna Lagonigro Product Developer at: Moment and Long Weekend Find Us on Social Media 🚀 @RipstopbytheRoll www.ripstopbytheroll.com
Why this guy cuts up $400 backpacks | Kenn Walker
Send us Fan Mail Most people see a finished backpack as the end of a project. Today's guest sees it as the beginning. Kenn Walker is a modification expert, known for taking a scalpel to the seams of $400 backpacks and making them even better than before. From his background in parachute rigging to turning a World Cup soccer ball into a bag, Kenn brings the kind of creativity and problem-solving that every maker can learn from. In This Episode, We Cover: Which techniques Kenn uses to confidently seam rip and modify finished bags The one tool Kenn cannot live without How he turned custom modifications into a thriving business What parachute rigging taught him about sewing, load paths, and building gear that lasts Kenn's favorite shop hacks, machines, and workflow for tackling one-of-a-kind projects Kenn Walker is a Custom/Modification Designer | Instagram | Website Find Us on Social Media 🚀 @RipstopbytheRoll www.ripstopbytheroll.com
Wooden Pack Frames?! Hear Him Out | Ethan Goss
Send us Fan Mail What happens when a blacksmith becomes obsessed with making backpacks? In this episode, Ethan Goss of Goss Handmade shares the unconventional ideas, hard-earned lessons, and creative rabbit holes that have shaped his approach to designing packs that blend heritage aesthetics with modern performance. In This Episode, We Cover: Why some vintage backpack designs still outperform modern alternatives—and which features deserve a comeback Ethan's surprisingly effective wood frame stays and what they taught him about comfort, durability, and pack design The anatomy of a great shoulder strap, from foam selection and fit to the small details that make packs more comfortable under load How classes, community, and studying other makers can dramatically accelerate your growth as a gear maker Listen in and lend a few ideas from Ethan's playbook. You might just find your next rabbit hole. Guest: Ethan Goss from Goss Handmade ( Instagram , Website ) Shop the latest fabrics and materials here. Find Us on Social Media 🚀 @RipstopbytheRoll www.ripstopbytheroll.com
Sewing Machine Maintenance Guide | Matt Evans
Send us Fan Mail Most sewing machine problems don’t start with catastrophic failure—they start with the small maintenance habits makers ignore for too long. In this episode, Matt Evans joins us to break down the practical upkeep, adjustments, and troubleshooting skills every DIYer should know to keep their machines running smoothly and sewing clean. In This Episode, We Cover: The maintenance habits that actually matter How to diagnose common sewing issues like skipped stitches, poor tension, and fabric feeding problems The simple machine adjustments makers should feel comfortable making themselves DIY tools, cheap shop hacks, and unexpected hardware store finds that can make patterning, cutting, and machine upkeep easier Custom UL Hiking Gear for Dogs and Humans - Red Paw Packs Guest: Matt Evans, Red Paw Packs Shop the latest fabrics and materials here. Find Us on Social Media 🚀 @RipstopbytheRoll www.ripstopbytheroll.com
The Crisis of American Sewing | Carolina Textile District
Send us Fan Mail Most of us like the idea of American-made production, but very few of us understand the complexity (or the role DIY makers can play in rebuilding it). This conversation explores what it actually takes to build sewn products sustainably in America without losing sight of the people behind the products. The Carolina Textile District helps businesses (big and small) create amazing products here in the US through educational courses, businesses connections, and operational support. Sewn Goods 101 Course Industrial Sewing Program isp@theindustrialcommons.o rg Shop the latest fabrics and materials here. Find Us on Social Media 🚀 @RipstopbytheRoll www.ripstopbytheroll.com
Sewing EVERYTHING For a Thru Hike | Eliza Sweeny
Send us Fan Mail Any project is a serious undertaking—but sewing everything for your thru-hike is next level. That’s exactly what Eliza did for the CDT. She breaks down what it actually takes to design, sew, and trust a full 15-piece kit when failure isn’t really an option. In this episode: Where to start when you want to make something big Why the failed prototype helped in the long run How Eliza approached fabric selection What she did this project for Listen in to get inspired and see where your next build can take you. Guest: Eliza Sweeney Shop the latest fabrics and materials here. Find Us on Social Media 🚀 @RipstopbytheRoll www.ripstopbytheroll.com
How to Think Like a Product Developer | Kyle Rogers
Send us Fan Mail The line between professional gear and great DIY gear is hard to define. Instead of guessing, we brought in a pro. A product developer with Patagonia and Yeti experience breaks down what actually matters and what makers can learn from the big companies. In This Episode, We Cover: The real difference between product design and product development—and why it matters for makers / cottage companies How big companies turn rough ideas into finished products (and what you can steal from that process) Simple ways to define your project upfront so you don’t get stuck, overbuild, or lose direction How to handle feedback, check your ego, and iterate like a pro without burning out your creativity Listen in and start building with more clarity, confidence, and intention before you even sit down at the machine. Guest: Kyle Rogers - Project Waterloo , LinkedIn Shop the latest fabrics and materials here. Find Us on Social Media 🚀 @RipstopbytheRoll www.ripstopbytheroll.com
Why Your Projects Look Worse Than They Really Are | Chris Ellison
Send us Fan Mail Stop rushing your photos and start making your gear look as good as it actually is. Cinematographer and maker Chris Ellison breaks down how to think about composition, environment, and presentation so your projects hit differently the moment people see them. In This Episode, We Cover: Why most maker photos fall flat—and the simple shift that instantly improves them How to use environment, framing, and depth to make your gear the clear focal point Practical tricks like stuffing, shaping, and staging your bags so they photograph clean and intentional How real-world use, travel, and feedback loops shape better design (and better visuals) over time Listen in and start taking photos (and making gear) that actually do your work justice. Explore Ellison Handmade: Website Instagram Shop our latest products here X-Pac® Find Us on Social Media 🚀 @RipstopbytheRoll www.ripstopbytheroll.com
5 (non-sewing) Habits That Make You a Better Maker | Filip Raboch
Send us Fan Mail Not every upgrade happens at the sewing machine. If you’ve ever felt stuck, burned out, or unsure why your work isn’t improving, this episode breaks down the mindset shifts that actually move you forward. Filip Raboch joins us to share what he’s learned building custom gear at a high level. Listen so you can avoid the common traps and start making smarter, more intentional decisions in your own process. Why identifying a specific use is most important How to say no and why you have to The hidden reality of being a custom gear maker for a living Guest: Filip Raboch Custom Gear Shop our newest products Find Us on Social Media 🚀 @RipstopbytheRoll www.ripstopbytheroll.com
Your Guide to Working with Foam | Matt Evans and Ryan Campbell
Send us Fan Mail Foam might not be the flashiest material in gear making, but it’s responsible for some of the biggest performance upgrades in your packs and bags. In this episode, we break down how experienced makers actually use foam. Covering real techniques, hard-earned lessons, and the small tricks that make projects come out better. In This Episode, We Cover: When and why to add foam to a project—from shoulder straps and back panels to laptop sleeves and structured bags How thickness, density, and foam type change comfort, structure, and sewability in real builds Practical techniques for cutting, shaping, ventilating, and installing foam cleanly in your projects Maker-tested tips for working with foam on home machines, avoiding common mistakes, and getting better results the first time If you’ve ever struggled with straps, structure, or padding in your projects, this episode will change the way you do your next build. Guests: Ryan Campbell from the Wandering Goat Matt Evans from Red Paw Packs Products: New X-Pac® Fabrics New Challenge ULTRA 200X Colors XLPE Foam Find Us on Social Media 🚀 @RipstopbytheRoll www.ripstopbytheroll.com
What makes KAI scissors so good? | Devin Head
Send us Fan Mail If you're still using the closest scissors to your machine - you need this episode. We sit down with Kai Scissors for a deep, no-fluff breakdown of what serious makers actually need to know about cutting tools. From steel and geometry to maintenance habits that pros swear by. Listen to the episode to get a 20% off discount for ROTR listeners. In This Episode, We Cover: Why premium scissors will radicalize your cutting experience How to choose the right size, style, or serration for technical fabrics, tight work, or heavy-duty materials The secret maintenance tips you won't find on reddit When rotary cutters, specialty blades, or niche tools outperform traditional scissors 🛒 Shop Kai Scissors and all of our newest products Find Us on Social Media 🚀 @RipstopbytheRoll www.ripstopbytheroll.com
How New Fabrics Come to Life | Carter Holland
Send us Fan Mail Ever wonder what actually happens before a fabric hits the shop? In this episode, we sit down with RBTR's own Carter Holland to pull back the curtain on product decisions, failures, tradeoffs, and future releases you won’t hear about anywhere else. How fabric ideas really get approved or quietly killed before they ever reach your sewing table What goes wrong during development and testing and why some “almost launched” materials never see the light of day The unspoken constraints of cost, MOQ, timing, and quality that shape every product we release Early insight into upcoming fabrics and categories that will define what makers are building next 🛒 Shop all of our newest products Find Us on Social Media 🚀 @RipstopbytheRoll www.ripstopbytheroll.com
The Hidden Power of Tailoring in Technical Gear | Alasdair Leighton-Crawford
Send us Fan Mail Traditional tailoring might seem worlds away from technical gear—but the principles are the same. In this episode, Alasdair Leighton-Crawford of Cimoro shares how skills learned on Savile Row translate directly into better-fitting apparel, smarter pack design, and more intentional making. We talk about: Why tailoring is one of the fastest ways to truly understand fit How athletic thinking and craft obsession shape better gear What most makers overlook when designing packs and apparel Balancing bespoke work, scalability, and running a small business Why making by hand still matters in an age of automation and AI Cimoro 🛒 Shop all of our newest products Find Us on Social Media 🚀 @RipstopbytheRoll www.ripstopbytheroll.com
What Factories Teach Us About Better Making | Douglas Davidson is Back!
Send us Fan Mail Factories aren’t just about scale—they’re classrooms for better design, smarter workflows, and more durable products. In this episode, Douglas Davidson shares lessons from global manufacturing floors and explains how makers at any level can apply factory thinking to make better gear, whether sewing at home or building for production. Announcements: Maker Meet-Up Spring 2026 Shop New Products Guest Links: Douglas Davidson | Canvas Worker & The Brown Buffalo Holubar Mountaineering backpack Bruce Johnson - History of Gear Hiroshi fujiwara (Goodenough) Dan Green, Arcteryx VP of Design Wilson bag factory Clarification: Douglas mentions Pungkook as having 100,000 employees in the episode. In the flow of the conversation, that number got mixed up. He meant to say 10,000 employees . 🛒 Shop all of our newest products Find Us on Social Media 🚀 @RipstopbytheRoll www.ripstopbytheroll.com
This episode will never see the light of day...
Send us Fan Mail Let us know what you want out of the podcast for 2026. Email us: social@ripstopbytheroll.com Sadly, the episode that was planned for this week had a technical problem and was lost entirely. We're bummed because this was going to be a fun episode. After only missing one week over the 5 years we've been running the show, we suppose it was bound to happen eventually. Don't worry, we have exciting episodes planned for 2026 and you can expect to hear from us on a regular basis once again. Thanks for our best year of podcasting! 🛒 Shop all of our newest products Find Us on Social Media 🚀 @RipstopbytheRoll www.ripstopbytheroll.com
Built by hand, Designed for scale | Douglas Davidson
Send us Fan Mail How our guest went from weekend prototypes to leading design work at The North Face, Nike, and Burton. This episode traces what it really takes to get great at designing gear. You’ll hear practical insights on materials, overseas factories, and the decisions that shape products you trust. Guest: Douglas Davidson of Canvas Worker and The Brown Buffalo Factories Mentioned: http://www.pungkook.com/ AJ Factory, https://www.instagram.com/kcajvn/ Meru Documentary 🛒 Shop all of our newest products Find Us on Social Media 🚀 @RipstopbytheRoll www.ripstopbytheroll.com
Fix These MYOG Mistakes Before You Start Your Next Project
Send us Fan Mail Sewing mistakes happen to everyone. Yes, even the pros. Today we’re breaking down how to actually fix the ones that haunt your workshop. From feeding fabric through the machine to perfecting seam allowances and choosing the right project order, we’re giving you the guide we wish we had on day one. Plus, we answer community questions on binding 3D shapes, PSA tape stitching, machine feed types, and even… what happened to Isaac? 2025 DIY Kit Sale Ep. 135 with Luke Mathers from Truce Designs Co-Host, Matt Evans from Red Paw Packs | Custom UL Packs built in Tarpon Springs FL 🛒 Shop all of our newest products Find Us on Social Media 🚀 @RipstopbytheRoll www.ripstopbytheroll.com
These Materials Tell a Story Beyond the Performance
Send us Fan Mail Great pack fabrics don't always come right from the mill. Luke from Truce Designs finds some of his fabrics from old sailboats, kites, and scrap bins. Upcycled fabrics aren't just "green" they're durable, functional, and full of old stories. They're the perfect accent to include on a bespoke project. Listen to this episode to hear about what to look for, what to stay away from, and how to upcycle old materials. Truce Designs Links: Website Youtube Channel Instagram New Products: Marine Grade Vinyl 🛒 Shop all of our newest products Find Us on Social Media 🚀 @RipstopbytheRoll www.ripstopbytheroll.com
Fidlock is gone... Now what?
Send us Fan Mail Good design is more than shapes and stitches. It’s timing, color, and knowing when something is good enough to release. We chat with James from Route Unknown to talk about secrets behind the drop method and how he creates modular, beautiful, and ultra-durable products in his one-man shop. Plus, why the UK doesn't have that many cottage companies. Listen to the episode to understand the edgy title :) https://www.instagram.com/route__unknown/ https://route-unknown.com/ james@route-unknown.com 🛒 Shop all of our newest products Find Us on Social Media 🚀 @RipstopbytheRoll www.ripstopbytheroll.com
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