Check Out Eric Dover’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Eric Dover.

Eric , we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
“I never in a million years thought I’d be a leatherworker. My story started five years ago, right after a soul-filling surf trip. I came back to a world in lockdown—no job, no income, just the memories of the waves. I was stuck on the couch, wondering ‘what’s next?’ when I had the most ordinary thought: ‘I need a new belt.’

That simple need set everything in motion. I drove to LA, wandered the garment district wide-eyed, and came home with a roll of leather and some basic tools. I must have made a dozen belts, just trying to create one I truly loved enough to wear. When friends saw them and wanted their own, a little light bulb went off.

To get out of the house, I started selling at local markets. I’ll never forget that first Christmas market—I sold out of everything. I was absolutely floored. That momentum led me to partner with a brilliant bikini designer I met at those pop-ups. For two years, we ran a store together, and it was my crash course in business.

Now, the journey has come full circle. I have my own little haven in the Funk Zone of Santa Barbara. I’m surrounded by the goods I create with my own hands, and I’ve never been happier. It all goes to show that sometimes the best path isn’t the one you plan, but the one that finds you when you’re just trying to make something you love.”

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
“You know, people see the cute shop in the Funk Zone now and think it was a straight line here. The truth is much messier. If it weren’t for pandemic stimulus checks and friends cheering me on and buying my first belts, I would have been completely lost. That was the foundation.

But that starting block quickly met the wall of reality: money. I had no concept of the true cost of a business. I remember the shock of pricing out a real industrial sewing machine, or realizing how many different tools and types of leather I needed just to offer a simple variety. The dream of just creating in my garage quickly met the reality of spreadsheets and side hustles.

I’ve always worked other jobs to make this possible. It’s the unglamorous side of the story—the part where you’re tired from your ‘day job’ and then go to work on your ‘heart job.’ Money has been the biggest hurdle in my life, and building this business has been the ultimate lesson in navigating that challenge. But in a way, it makes where I am today mean so much more.”

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
“My work is an extension of my story, written in leather and thread. I specialize in crafting goods that are built for the journey—whether that’s a journey across the globe or through the complexities of daily life.

I come from a family of true blue artists and sea-wise souls who valued experiences above all else. My grandmother and mother were portrait artists, their hands always moving, capturing the essence of a person on paper. My grandfather and uncle taught me about empathy and the call of the ocean. I’m a writer and a doodler by nature, a surfer by passion, and a Californian, through and through.

All of this converges in my workshop. I’m known for pieces that are honest, durable, and full of character—much like the old tattoo shops and sailor-filled piers of my youth. What sets me apart is this belief: that the objects we carry should tell a story. They should be well-worn by life, not just by time.

I am most proud of carrying forward my family’s artistic legacy, but in my own language. I’m not drawing portraits; I’m crafting a belt that will be a faithful companion on countless adventures, or a bag that holds someone’s own important story. My shop in the Funk Zone isn’t just a store; it’s the culmination of all those uneasy tributaries, finally flowing into a harbor I built with my own hands.”

We’d be interested to hear your thoughts on luck and what role, if any, you feel it’s played for you?
“You know, if you look at my story, it’s full of what some might call ‘lucky breaks.’ But when I dig into it, the common thread is always a person. I was ‘lucky’ that friends wanted my belts. I was ‘lucky’ to meet a brilliant designer at a pop-up. I’ve been ‘lucky’ to find a community in Santa Barbara that supports my shop.

So, for me, luck is a people business. It’s about showing up authentically and attracting your tribe.

And of course, the flip side exists. You’ll always meet people who doubt you or throw negativity your way. My policy on that brand of ‘bad luck’ is non-negotiable. I have a firm belief: Haters will be haters. I don’t have the time or energy for them, and I ignore them completely. My advice? You should, too. Focus on your people—they’re the real luck.”

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.summerlandleatherco.com
• Instagram: Summerland_Leather_C0
• Facebook: Summerland Leather co

Image Credits
I took all the pictures and made everything you see.