HISTORY
Here is where it all began:
Ryan gave his wife a sewing machine for her birthday in 2012. She was so excited, but little did she know, he was about to become a sewing machine hog.
Ryan wanted a smaller more versatile wallet that could make his life easier, so he took over the kitchen table for a month and sewed for hours every night. After realizing it no longer was just a one wallet project, he shifted everything into his office.
This was the first wallet he made for himself. This was before it became known as the Crabby Wallet. Ryan is glad it has evolved into something much better.
The first wallet didn't look too good, but Ryan liked the functionality of it. With a lot of trial and error and some coaching from his mom, he was able to make the wallet look, feel, and function better.
He sketched out a better version of the wallet and started on round two.
After he hand sketched the wallet, he opened Illustrator to create a version that would allow him to move the pieces around.
He made some changes and then created a pattern to start making wallets for his friends and family.
These are the first batch of wallets that he made for other people to test and give feedback. (The long keyring loops are attached to these wallets, but the picture is too dark to see them and they are tucked in the front pocket).
Ryan's wife posted this Instagram of his wallets requesting people to test them. He then mailed them out and received some feedback on the wallets.
At this stage, the crab comes in. Most people knew Ryan as "Crabby" (derived from his last name). Everyone naturally started calling it the Crabby Wallet. The name stuck, and Ryan knew he had to mark the wallet with a crab.
He didn't have the equipment to put the crab on the wallet, so he started making connections with some manufacturers to see how it could be done. This is the prototype they sent back with a crab embroidered on it.
With a prototype on hand, he needed some pictures and a video for Kickstarter. He bought some PVC, white bed sheets, umbrellas, and some tripods to put together a shooting studio in his office.
Here are the final wallet options that were shown to the Kickstarter backers. All the wallets Ryan made were of colors he found at local craft stores. From the amount of money earned from the Kickstarter backers, he was able to have the wallets manufactured in regular solid colors.