Today we’d like to introduce you to Jameson MacFarland-Hall.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
When Covid hit, I lost my job as a marketing and program manager at a sports venue in the center of the state. Amidst the chaos of a worldwide pandemic and a job hunt, I came across this little company in Durham who was hiring a marketing manager. Like all interviewees would, I did my research to find that their target customer sews their own gear with the fabrics that they produce. That year I had been training for a 50K trail run at Grayson Highlands. Having been unemployed I didn’t want to spend the $150 on a new running vest so I decided to try and make one for my race and as a great interview story.
That was now 5.5 years ago and I have grown immensely both as a marketer and as a maker. Still working at Ripstop by the Roll, I am now the marketing director and get to rub elbows with product designers all over the world. This has been so fulfilling on a personal level because over the last handful of years, product design has become one of my biggest passions.
Working at Ripstop by the Roll started as a job but what it does for customers and the work it enables is life changing for those of us that want amazing fabrics without having to buy 10,000 yards from mills.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Because Rove is a side project that I pursue in my free time, it’s a joy to do. There are struggles. Typically those struggles manifest themselves as techniques I can’t perfect, designs I can’t figure out, and the exhaustion I feel from staring at a sewing machine for 5-6 hours straight.
More than feeling struggles I feel immense gratitude that I was able to find this hobby, profession, and industry. I was an athlete all my life and even played college soccer, My physical pursuits meant a lot to me and this passion has been the closest thing I’ve ever felt to replacing the love I had for my sport.
With that being said, I do work extremely hard. I get frustrated and I get annoyed when I don’t meet the expectations I have for myself. If something is a little off, I will not settle until it’s done right or I have a solution that satisfies me. In the state the Rove is in right now, I don’t have to meet any demands or numbers. My day-job is elsewhere and I am able to pursue creative excellence here.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
In the most simple terms – I am a bag designer. In my own words, I like to explore the ways that we carry our items to work, on our travels, in the mountains, and on the bike. I have built custom backpacks, tote bags, duffle bags, bikepacking set-ups, and everything in between. What I love most is starting a design from a clean slate and creating something that solves a specific set of problems experienced by the carrier.
Every one of my designs starts with one or two specific problems that I have identified in other bags. These problems are large enough that make them worth designing an entire bag for. From there, I pick apart every decision to find one that functions intuitively, looks good, and enhances the product. For example, this is a common series of questions I ask myself, “if most bags have this one handle design, why is that? Can it be done better? What is the weakness of this system?”
As a hands-on designer, I am also the one cutting and sewing each project. I value the craft of sewing so much. Like all of us, I spend too much time on my phone and in front of a screen. Sewing is a unique way for me to unplug and connect with a tangible skill. I get to use my brain in a different way and I get to use my hands.
I experience the side effects of ADHD and my desk job challenges me. Sewing is sitting, but my brain and hands are equally busy. There’s a serenity (for me) in this dual stimulation.
Can you talk to us about how you think about risk?
Anyone who knows me knows that I have a very conservative personality. I am willing to take risks but they are always well calculated and the result is more guaranteed than not. Sewing and design has been one of the areas that I have learned to become more comfortable with risks. I try things all the time that I don’t have an answer to.
In the grand scheme of things, these are little risks. They are color combos, bag profiles, buckles selections, and other futile things. But for those of us who still have a younger version of themselves in the back of their head that holds off on risk, having just one or two areas where you can throw caution to the wind is really important. I really value this small place where I am able to take little risks and strengthen that muscle in my mind.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rovegearco/
