The History of Rival Craftwork

Hi, I'm Dave, and my history runs a wide gambit. I didn't always know I was meant to be a maker, but in the end it chose me. 

My beginnings as a maker started in a woodshop at a very young age. This led me to study product design in college in NYC where I focused on fine furniture and cabinet making. I then transitioned to clothing and fashion, and started  modifying my own clothes to mimic punk bondage shirts similar to what rockers in the 70's wore.  When I left New York, I started creating my own wearable art pieces out of leather and denim.  This is when my love affair with making began.

I founded Rival Craftwork in 2018 as a way to start selling the denim bottoms I was making at the time. Working directly with Jimmy Webb and his shop, I Need More in NYC, I expanded into different cuts of jeans, vests and leather jackets. Jimmy always supported me as designer and encouraged me to push the envelope, helping me to evolve and grow as an artist. As a tribute to him and his support, I still take on occasional custom orders.

While I have always worked with leather in a more traditional way, creating custom sheaths for the blades I sculpt has been another expression of creativity.  I decided to look further into working with different types of leather and as I researched more, I could feel the need to create really take hold.  In the early spring of 2022, my wife asked me to make her a tote bag. I figured that to make a leather motorcycle jacket or a very well fitting bottom is way more complicated than a tote, so I said hell yes I can make that!  That was it, once I started I felt a strong passion to continue.

I'm meant to be with working with my hands, and am always making new things. It's important to me to be able to create items that will last from the quality of the materials, to each one being handmade. I know you will love your purchase as much as I've loved making it for you. Each purchase not only supports a small business, but a dream and a passion. Thank you for your continued support and patronage.