JP Custom Leatherworks is a family owned and operated business specializing in firefighting and EMS leather gear, built by hand in Whiting, New Jersey since 2016.
Every product we make is an extension of who we are. Our Craftsmanship. Our Quality. Our Commitment to the Standard of Excellence.
JP Custom Leatherworks started with a simple idea: make gear we wanted but couldn't find.
In early 2016, I noticed there weren't many companies offering quality leather gear with the options and design flexibility I was looking for. That summer, I decided I wanted to make my own radio strap.
By September, I was all in. I sold my project car, put in what little savings I had, and bought some hand tools, some thread, and a few sides of leather. I built a workbench from scrap wood in my basement and started learning. (Fun fact: that bench is still used in our shop today.)
For the next two months, I spent every waking minute learning leathercraft and ruining more leather than I thought possible. By November, I was confident enough to make my first radio strap. Ironically, it wasn't for me. It was for my buddy Carl. When friends and guys in my department saw it, the orders started flowing. That same month, I launched the first JP Custom Leatherworks website.
In 2017, we outgrew the basement and moved into a 12-by-20-foot shed. We expanded our product line, attended trade shows, and started getting our name out there. We also invested in our first sewing machine, clicker press, and burnishing machine. By mid 2018, I made the decision to close my forklift repair and property management company and give JP Custom Leatherworks my full attention.
In 2020, we moved across town to Whiting, New Jersey. An 800-square-foot garage and a 1,000-square-foot basement gave us room to put our foot on the gas. We added equipment and hired our first three employees. Two of them, Kayla and Reece, are still with us today.
By 2022, we were running out of room again. That June, we signed a lease for a 1,600-square-foot storefront and spent the summer turning it into our new home. We moved in late August, eventually added an adjoining 800-square-foot unit, and still needed more space. With five full-time employees, we ultimately closed the storefront to make room for more workspace.
Our next move had to give us room for the future. In fall 2023, we signed a lease for a 15,000-square-foot former grocery store. Most people called us crazy. We didn't have every detail figured out, but we knew we would make it work.
Around that time, my brother Mike told me he wanted in. He was tired of corporate America and wanted to help build something worth building. Bringing him on board was a no-brainer. Together, we built out the shop, tackled bottlenecks, improved our workflow, and focused on the customer experience.
We moved in April 2024 with seven employees. Shortly after, our landlord offered us another 15,000 square feet next door. My first reaction was to laugh. We had just moved from 2,400 square feet. What were we going to do with 30,000?
But I had a vision for where JP could go, including a longtime goal of making leather wildland firefighting boots and work boots. After serious consideration, we took the leap.
Throughout the rest of 2024 and all of 2025, we focused on shortening lead times and improving the customer experience. We hired more people, invested in equipment, and worked hard to improve how we operated.
In 2025, Dunlop Footwear approached us about working on several projects. By April, we had taken on full production of their waders. It wasn't exactly how I had pictured using the additional space, but if the shoe fits…
Today, our JP family is 24 strong. Our team shares the values that guide everything we do: The Standard of Excellence, People First, One Team One Family, Always Be Learning, Own the Outcome, Go the Extra Mile, and Have Fun.
The products we make and the experience our customers have come to expect are possible because of every person in this shop. We've come a long way from a scrap wood workbench in a basement, but this is only the beginning.
Every day is day one, and our future is bright.
— Joe Petito, Founder, JP Custom Leatherworks
Joe sold his project car, invested his savings, and taught himself leathercraft at a homemade basement workbench. By November, he made his first radio strap for his buddy Carl and launched the JP Custom Leatherworks website.
Operations moved into a 12' x 20' shed. JP expanded its product line, attended trade shows, and invested in its first sewing machine, clicker press, and burnishing machine.
Joe closed his forklift repair and property management company to focus entirely on building JP Custom Leatherworks.
JP moved to Whiting, gaining an 800-square-foot garage and a 1,000-square-foot basement. The company added equipment and hired its first three employees, including Kayla and Reece, who remain part of the team today.
JP signed a lease for a 1,600-square-foot commercial storefront in June and moved in late August. The business later expanded into an adjoining 800-square-foot unit and converted the retail area into additional production space.
JP signed a lease for a 15,000-square-foot former grocery store. Joe's brother Mike joined the company, helping build the new shop and improve production and the customer experience.
The team moved into the new shop in April with seven employees. Shortly afterward, JP secured the adjoining unit, bringing the facility to 30,000 square feet and creating room for future manufacturing opportunities.
JP took on full wader production for Dunlop Footwear in April while continuing to improve lead times and the customer experience. In November, we opened our new 2,500-square-foot storefront, giving customers a place to shop and build our products in person.
The JP family grew to 24 people, united by seven core values and a commitment to quality and customer care. With room to grow and a clear vision, the team continues building toward what comes next.
Cut from the side, stamped letter by letter, painted by hand, stitched on our Cobra machines, and inspected by the family before it ships.
We build gear first responders can trust with their lives, and we try to run the shop the same way.
