We had the good fortune of connecting with Patrick Gibbons and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Patrick, have you ever found yourself in a spot where you had to decide whether to give up or keep going? How did you make the choice?
NEVER give up. That isn’t an option. Aut inveniam viam aut faciam. Owning my own business has not been easy. There has been quite a bit of struggle over the last twelve years. There are much easier ways to make a living, however I wouldn’t trade it. It is an incredibly fun and rewarding ride.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
For the most part, Handmade creates products for our customers, that our customers design. Although we do come up with designs that we make available to our customers, we love when we are contacted with, “can you make this for me?” I am excited to release our new line of hand painted belts, head covers, cash covers, and yardage books with Katie FioRito. The finishes have never been done before to the degree that we will be doing them. It has been an interesting journey over the last twelve years since starting Gibbons Handmade in my garage. I was very naive, and very stubborn, both of which I attribute as the biggest factors to the success and longevity of this company. When I look back, I am grateful that I didn’t know what the road ahead would be. If I had, I would have “gone at gotten a real job,” as my ex-fiancee suggested many times. My goal with starting Handmade was to create quality products that would stand the test of time, and to produce them in the United States. I get contacted several times each week from companies overseas that want to produce Gibbons Handmade products in their factories. They tell me that my profits will go through the roof, at which point I explain to them that that’s not what we’re about. I am proud that Gibbons Handmade has created American jobs. It may not be a lot, and it may not make a huge impact, but I know it makes an impact to my employees and partners.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
If a friend was visiting me in the valley and was crazy enough to allow me to plan the itinerary for an entire week, they are going to go home tired, sore, and well feed. Food: Mastro’s Mission George’s Kitchen Durant’s JJ’s Deli Chompies Chino Bandido Binkley’s Cartwright’s El Encanto – Cave Creek Golf Troon North We-ko-pa Gold Canyon – Dinosaur Mountain Raven – South Mountain Papago Hikes Camelback (required for first time visitors or the resident is kicked out) Lost Dutchman Trail The Crack Grand Canyon (Rim to Rim) Sedona

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I have had the great fortune to work and partner with incredible artists and artisans throughout the years that have been instrumental in Handmade’s success like: T. Jett, who left a multi-decade career with Nike to come on as a full time partner with Handmade in 2017. JP Monticelli, who manages the day to day operations and is a professional “juggler and cat wrangler.” Katie FioRito, who is our newest partner and a magician with painting leather. Katie’s talents are unmatched and I am so excited to have the opportunity to turn her work into “art you can wear.”

Website: www.patrickgibbonshandmade.com
Instagram: @gibbonshandmade
Facebook: Patrick Gibbons Handmade

Image Credits
Photographer: Phyllis Lane Stylist: Berly Baray Make Up: Allison Pynn Model: Michael Justin (Ford/Robert Black) Model: Leah Notebaert (Ford/Robert Black)

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