Prior to the SCSW project, I worked for many years as a public high school teacher in New Orleans and St. Louis, almost always in high-need classrooms where innovation, not invention, was a daily requirement as I sought to be the teacher students deserved. Those years taught me the profundity of being a lifelong learner; much like cycling, it is about the journey, not the destination.
I consider myself a fortunate traveler on the path to honing my craft with a wealth of resources and sources of inspiration to draw from. However, there are two individuals who have had a particularly significant impact on my journey. Firstly, I am grateful to John Campbell of Alpine Luddites for his guidance in building my first-ever frame bag. He is a legendary master craftsman, which you will agree if you are ever lucky enough to get your hands on one of his packs. Secondly, Yvon Chouinard, the founder of Patagonia, has greatly influenced my design philosophy. His book, Let My People Go Surfing, contains many of the ideas that shape my work today.
To wit, building high-quality, useful, and functional gear anchors my work under the name of South City Stitchworks. Because every piece of gear is handmade with no factory machines involved, no two bags will ever be exactly alike, but they will all be built with the same attention to detail no matter their size or cost.
With “quality” as the goal, here are the design questions I ask about each piece of SCSW gear I build:
- When designing gear, function should always come first. As an experienced bikepacker, racer, and bag maker, I ensure that all SCSW gear is built to perform while avoiding unnecessary bells and whistles that can add weight and break over time. The functionally driven design is usually minimalist!
- Durability is also essential. I use the highest quality available fabrics, always specifically chosen for your project, and combined with intentional craftsmanship we can build bags and packs that will outlast the bikes they are built for.
- I make sure SCSW gear fits the customer's bike and goals—it is written in my “Rock Solid Guarantee.”
- The idea is to add value to your ride. When done well, a custom bike bag is a truly rewarding investment that will enhance your cycling experiences for thousands of miles to come.
- I prioritize authenticity. In other words, will this gear meet the needs of the world’s top athletes and explorers? If not, it is not the real thing, and I do not want to sell it to you.
- Lastly, I believe that building gear that meets all of these criteria is art, and art should be fun, which is why I also strive to make the process enjoyable for customers.
- SCSW is grassroots gear with the aim of being the best in the category.