Ripstop on the Record

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Repairing gear requires a different mindset than making it from scratch. But one of the greatest benefits of sewing skills is being able to get more out of the things you already have. Our guest breaks down how to confidently tear into finished gear, diagnose what actually failed, and make repairs that can keep your favorite equipment going for years.
Here's what we cover: 
What you need to look for before grabbing the seam ripper 
Why sometimes the best repair starts by seam ripping something that isn't broken
The repair-specific tools and tricks worth adding to your sewing kit
What years of repairing failed gear can teach us about better design
How repair can make you a better gear designer 
Whether you do this for environmental reasons or to have fun, gear repair has some tangible benefits to makers of every skill level. 
Guest: 
Maddy Hem from Black Bear Gear Repair

New Products: 
X-Pac®UX20ST
 1.8 oz Venom™ Ripstop Hybrid Nylon 6.6 

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Technical fabrics are changing fast, but what’s actually driving the next generation of materials? We sit down with Taylor and Yann from X-Pac® to go behind the laminate and talk hyperTEC, UHMWPE, sustainability, and where performance fabrics are headed next.
In This Episode, We Cover:
Why the industry is shifting back toward high-performance materials—and what that means for the fabrics makers will see next
What makes the new hyperTEC line different, including 100% UHMWPE face fabrics, UHMWPE X-Ply®, and the development behind them
The surprising truth about “recycled” fabrics, including why two materials carrying the same certification can contain drastically different amounts of recycled fiber
What makers misunderstand about laminates, delamination, and the decades of development happening behind fabrics that might look deceptively simple
Listen in and get a rare look behind the materials you’re cutting, sewing, and building with every day.
Products:  VX21OE, UX10, X11 | Shop All X-Pac®
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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

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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
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@RipstopbytheRoll
www.ripstopbytheroll.com

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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
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@RipstopbytheRoll
www.ripstopbytheroll.com