The Jeans Maker
craftsman's legacy

Eric Yelsma has been drawn to sewing since a teenager. Now his shop makes jeans from American sourced, sustainable fabric that is constructed and sold in Detroit. Host Eric Gorges gets to stitching, confirming threads do make the man.

Episode Duration: 26 minutes and 46 seconds

Episode Number: 403

About Craftsman's Legacy:

In A CRAFTSMAN'S LEGACY, host Eric Gorges goes on a quest to discover the true craftsmen in today's world.

Traveling across the country, Gorges interviews the men and women responsible for carrying the tools, trades and traditions of fine craftsmanship into the 21st century.

From a glass blower to a guitar maker, a weaver to a potter, every episode explains the history of a traditional craft and the importance of that craft in the United States today.

Other tradespeople include: a woodworker, a snowshoe maker, a knife-maker, a boat-maker, a saddle-maker, a stone carver and a blacksmith.

Gorges, a welder by trade, meets and interviews master craftsmen, and learns why they chose their craft, where they learned their skills, how they live using their talents, and the challenges and importance of keeping that tradition alive in a modern-day world.

He then takes on the role of apprentice on a project under the guidance of the master craftsman.

In these inspiring segments, Gorges proves that, with the right tools and careful direction, a person with no experience can learn the basic skills of a craft to create something of lasting value.

As owner of Voodoo Choppers, Gorges creates custom motorcycles and stylish works of art for high-end restaurants and luxury homes.

His one-of-a-kind choppers have been featured on The Discovery Channel.


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