Riptide Leatherworks, LLC.

Riptide Leatherworks, LLC. Handmade Leather Goods We are a Durango, coloRADo based shop.

Yup....and east coaster and a west coaster met in the middle somewhere and started this little shop.

Sometimes we hit a true home run when ordering a hide. This one was full of life—fat wrinkles, scars, even branding mark...
09/04/2025

Sometimes we hit a true home run when ordering a hide. This one was full of life—fat wrinkles, scars, even branding marks—each telling its own story. From that leather came this black-and-white tote, one of the most striking pieces we’ve ever made.

Yesterday, I strapped it to my bike’s cargo rack and pedaled to the UPS Store. Those rides through town, product in tow, are moments of quiet reflection. I’m reminded why I love this craft: the smell of fresh leather when the box is opened, the thought of the smile on a customer’s face, the knowledge that this tote will be carried and used for years to come.

This bag will always be a favorite of mine—not in spite of its imperfections, but because of them. Just like life, leather is most beautiful when we embrace the marks, the scars, and the character they bring.

Here’s to turning imperfections into something truly unforgettable.


09/03/2025

We remain committed—still here, still creating. Despite the ongoing challenges, appointments, and adjustments following Jim’s accident, our dedication to craftsmanship has only deepened. Our process has evolved into a true bespoke model: each piece made slowly, intentionally, and one at a time. While Jim’s recovery is a lifelong journey, perseverance defines our work. In life, we are learning to go with the flow—letting the riptide carry us forward while we continue to create. Today, we’re proud to send out a new handcrafted tote to our friend in Southern California.

Thanks for sticking with us as we adapt to this. De and ever changing life.

Spending time to hand wrote thank you letters to our customers, friends, and even competitors is something we both enjoy...
07/08/2025

Spending time to hand wrote thank you letters to our customers, friends, and even competitors is something we both enjoy. Going analog and hand writing letters, including using old school fountain pens, is super cathartic and keeps us in our roots….bro g grateful !!!

When’s the last time you hand write a letter!?!? Unplug….go full analog! There’s lots to be discovered and appreciated in that space!

Shameless plug….we buy all of our analog writing supplies from another small family run business. has everything we’ve ever needed in that realm and their customer service is something we strive to create here. If you find yourself picking up any new pens…hit us up! We make pen rolls (my personal one slightly in frame here), pen sleeves or whatever your needs may be….hit us up!

Sometimes I get pulled out of the shop to be creative in other ways. With my camera. Especially when a crew from back ...
07/08/2025

Sometimes I get pulled out of the shop to be creative in other ways. With my camera. Especially when a crew from back home (SoCal - Riverside & MoVal) shows up and wants to d@tour all of the rad dirt and skate parks around town. Felt good to simply be around people who speak my language….dress normal….and possibly use the word “bitchin”….

A good time with the homies and a nice break from the shop!
📷

WOW!!!!! And just like that paths open, friends step up, and even other small business owners reach out to help! Just ...
07/01/2025

WOW!!!!! And just like that paths open, friends step up, and even other small business owners reach out to help! Just wow! We are so grateful for this community and for family and friends near and far. In less than 24 hours kindness stepped in to save the day. We have a new space! We want to fist thank the folks over at SW Handmade for reaching out and offering to help. We are so grateful for your kindness and it won’t be forgotten…not in this lifetime! We were thrilled when our friends at Mountain Graphics offered us a space in their shop to rent. It amazes me when things like this happen and when the good in this world shines over the BS! We are excited to work so closely with the Mountain Graphics folks in an amazing space. Grateful doesn’t even scratch the surface. What a nightmare that has finally ended. To top it all off we just got confirmation that we will have a booth at Buckley park on August the 2nd. Come out and say hi, slap a high five, listen to some reggae, or just to say hello. We are back and we are DRIVEN like never before. As our good friend Vanilla Ice would say…. “If there’s a problem YO I’ll solve it….” !!!




See you all out there and here’s to hoping all of us can find our way out of the rip currents of life!!!!! Lean into friends and community when things get tough!!!!!

Update: Local friends. We are searching for a space for our shop. We know we are looking for a “Unicorn”, so to speak,...
06/29/2025

Update:
Local friends. We are searching for a space for our shop. We know we are looking for a “Unicorn”, so to speak, but we have to try. We are looking for a small space for our leather and canvas shop. We’ve run into some serious issues and hurdles with our current space. So!!!! Please shoot us a DM if you have any contacts or know of any sweet little spots. In the interim we will need to step back from the shop until we figure out a path forward and a space where we can work. This also coincides with the ongoing battle in regard to my injuries and life post accident. It’s going to be a very long and winding road and we will be in the shop just as much as we can….but first we need to find a space for our shop. We appreciate all the support over the last year. The accident proved to be life changing and right now we just want to find a space so I can continue to try and earn a living as we navigate this entirely different life/world. Thanks so much Durango!!!!

It’s been a long REALLY FLIPPIN hard year. As fire season slowly kicks off I bury myself in the shop and keep my head d...
06/04/2025

It’s been a long REALLY FLIPPIN hard year. As fire season slowly kicks off I bury myself in the shop and keep my head down. The feels start to surface….i wanna go back. I wanna be with my crew. I wanna serve. I wanna fight. But I know how lucky I am. And I will ALWAYS wear red and will forever be a firefighter.

Some days are harder than others. Today was hard. Seeing a fellow firefighter (and police officer) make his final journey home is tough.

It’s never easy to see a brother or sister fall in the line of duty. Officer Ontiveros was also a Forefighter in Aztec, NM. Blue or Red….doesnt matter. A brother is a brother. Rest easy sir….weve voted it from here…

Catch Us This Weekend at the La Plata County Fairgrounds!Riptide Leatherworks is bringing the goods to the Spring into S...
04/14/2025

Catch Us This Weekend at the La Plata County Fairgrounds!

Riptide Leatherworks is bringing the goods to the Spring into Summer Arts & Crafts Festival! Come check out our handcrafted leather goods — from wallets and belts to one-of-a-kind accessories — all made with rugged style and built to last.

Where: La Plata County Fairgrounds
When: This weekend – April 19th 10am-3pm

Why: Because your gear should be as bold as you are.

Swing by, say hi, and support local makers. Let’s kick off the season in style!

Not just for the cowboys…..but also the rest of us!! Our bespoke, heavy-duty belt is handcrafted from two layers of Wick...
04/12/2025

Not just for the cowboys…..but also the rest of us!! Our bespoke, heavy-duty belt is handcrafted from two layers of Wickett & Craig vegetable-tanned leather, totaling approximately 12–15 oz (about 1/4”) thick. No fillers, no shortcuts—just serious strength, a custom fit, and leather that breaks in like it was made for you—because it was.

Built to carry tools, gear, and the weight of everyday life.



Finishing up some trivets for the start to our market season. Stoked for 04-06-25. We’ve been buried just building up ...
03/28/2025

Finishing up some trivets for the start to our market season. Stoked for 04-06-25. We’ve been buried just building up inventory and working on the website. Stay tuned. A lot of new leather has arrived, or is arriving next week, from

To say we are stoked about our new design would be a gross understatement. knocked this one out of the park. As alway...
03/15/2025

To say we are stoked about our new design would be a gross understatement. knocked this one out of the park. As always nails it. These are going on our coasters and trivets. Maybe it’s just us but I think the world needs some serious aloha right now and maybe some Riptide coasters for that cold drink while you’re chillin out and keeping a positive attitude. We are equally as stoked for our heat press. This machine is a game changer!!!!

03/14/2025

We heard you! Just ordered a bunch of thicker leathers for belts and radio harnesses for my structural fire family. Speaking of….do any of my structural firefighting friends have an old radio harness laying around that I could tear apart and design our own? Thought I’d ask before buying a perfectly new one. You clearly wouldn’t get this back….at least not in one price! But we’d be happy to replace it with one we design and make!

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Durango, CO
81301

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