Welches resident Jeff Curry appreciates well-crafted objects that can last a
long time, but sees us living in a society that is more focused on buying stuff
that will quickly be thrown away. Curry still uses his grandmother’s cast iron
pan, seasoned decades ago and still doing its job, while also enjoying a record
player and the records that date back to his mother’s youth.

“You just don’t throw those away,” Curry said. “They still work perfectly great.
I’m much more interested in things you're going to hold on to and have more
meaning.”

And with that philosophy in mind, Curry opened his new business venture,
Dark Forest USA, a lifestyle goods company that offers handmade leather
products, including wallets, camera straps, cast iron mittens and more.
Curry, who grew up in Pittsfield, Mass. and went to school in Vermont, uses
American leather and thread for his products and the leather is tanned with

vegetable oil, making it more environmentally friendly than the chemical-
based alternatives. His products also come with a lifetime guarantee.

“I really wanted to make something that would stand the test of time,” Curry
said, adding that he’s “on a crusade” to share with people why investing in
something that is well-made will pay off in the long run, rather than buying a
number of cheap alternatives.

Dark Forest USA, named with that idea that even in the deepest, darkest
parts of the forest, the light will always shine through, is Curry’s second
business venture, after starting the textile company Treefort with a business
partner. During that endeavor, Curry learned some basic leather skills while
creating hundreds of different logos for a variety of products, but when he
suffered a ski injury in 2017, he started developing his new business during
his recovery.

“From there, I just kind of got hooked on the whole leatherworking thing,” he
said.

Curry, who also worked locally at Windell’s Ski Camp as a ski coach, noted
that the momentum for his new company gained steam during the
coronavirus pandemic, when he was stuck at home and devoted more time
into crafting leather.

He added that when he takes his pieces to craft fairs, the cast iron mitten
(used to protect hands from a hot skillet) is a popular item, while his golf tee

holster (featuring embossed initials) was a hit as a Christmas present for his
father.

In the near future, Curry hopes to figure out the final designs for feminine
wallets, saying that he’s always experimenting with new designs, but he
doesn’t want to rush something along and then have to change it.
“I’m a very meticulous person,” he said. “I need to figure it out and make a
couple to test out before releasing it.”

For more information, visit www.darkforestusa.com.