Look, I'm Mike Riddle. Started washing dishes at 15. Became an Executive Chef in NYC. Then spent 25 years as a Marketing VP building national brands. Know what all those years taught me? Quality gear separates professionals from hobbyists. I've destroyed $300 knife rolls in six months. Watched "lifetime warranty" aprons disintegrate. Seen cheap leather split the first time it got wet. That's why I created Gotham City Leather. Not made — CURATED. I personally tested gear from 50+ suppliers across three continents. Brazilian leather that luxury brands pay premium for. Indian vegetable tanning that's been perfected for 3,000 years. USA military-spec hardware. This is what I trust with my Brazilian knife collection. The same aprons I wear into competition. The carriers that have been to Memphis, Kansas City, and back. Professional grade isn't marketing speak. It's what professionals actually buy when they're done replacing garbage. - Executive Chef Mike Riddle Crafted in Smoke. Forged in Fire.