Revo Reves Stitchcraft Interiors

Few names in custom automotive upholstery have touched as many corners of the industry as Revo Reeves of Stitchcraft Interiors.

From the golden era of mini trucks and radical California customs, to Hollywood builds, SEMA cars, Fast & Furious movie vehicles, and OEM display builds for Ford, Mazda, and GM, Reeves has spent decades shaping some of the most recognizable interiors in modern custom car culture.

His work has appeared in thousands of magazines worldwide, major television builds, and even die-cast collectibles from brands like Hot Wheels and Jada Toys. But despite the resume, Reeves still approaches upholstery the same way he did when he first discovered the craft in Southern California back in the late 1970s.

We sat down with Revo to talk creativity, craftsmanship, CNC technology, custom interiors, and where the upholstery industry is headed next.

My brother Dale RIP.

I actually never planned on taking upholstery classes. My brother was already taking auto body and paint classes at SCROC in Torrance, California back in 1978. We had a Chevelle at the time and he told me he’d handle the outside if I handled the inside.

My instructor, Darrel Morgan, told me I had a gift for it, and here we are all these years later.

Anything that gives me creative freedom.

I’m probably most known for crazy custom interiors. My imagination works effortlessly in this craft and design has always come naturally to me.

Back in the day we were building interiors for California Customs USA and Master Image Customs during the height of the custom truck scene. Those vehicles were being shipped all over the world, especially to Japan.

That eventually led into television work and movie cars.

Never.

One thing just kept leading into another.

We started working with Jesse James and West Coast Choppers, including some of his personal vehicles. Then came Overhaulin’ with Chip Foose, Rides, Chop Cut Rebuild with Dan Woods, Orange County Choppers, Wheeler Dealers, and a bunch of other projects over the years.

We also built interiors for many of the original Fast & Furious movie cars over 20 years ago. We built multiple interiors for cars like the Supra, Jetta, Maxima, and Mitsubishi hero cars.

What’s crazy is those cars are still influencing builders today. We still get customers from all over the world wanting movie-car recreations.

Both actually. Sometimes less is more.

The trick is knowing when to stop.

A lot of people think custom means adding more and more, but some of the best interiors are simple and balanced.

Simplicity and making something pleasing to the eye.

Some interiors try too hard to impress people. The ones that age the best usually have restraint.

That’s impossible… lol.

But I do think anything too crazy or overly complicated probably won’t age well.

Budget definitely matters, but so does passion.

You have to genuinely love this craft. That’s what pushes people to obsess over the details most people never even notice.

Wrapping corners.

That’s one of those things most people will never consciously notice, but bad corners instantly stand out to experienced builders.

Building the interior itself.

The upholstery is really the icing on the cake. The fabrication side is where the real time disappears.

Definitely my CNC router, scanner, and 3D printer.

That’s my jam. I’ve been using CAD and CNC equipment for over 25 years.

I also have an Eastman M9000 pattern cutter that I’ve used for over two decades. It’s a goldmine because I have hundreds and hundreds of stored patterns. I can foam material, load the pattern, hit the button, and be sewing within minutes.

I’d also love to add a CNC quilting machine eventually.

I think it’s the future.

A lot of old-school guys resist technology, but these tools can dramatically improve workflow, repeatability, and design possibilities.

You still need craftsmanship though. Technology doesn’t replace talent.

Two things:
The time it takes, and all the miscellaneous materials and incidentals involved.

People see the finished product, but they don’t always understand how much fabrication, testing, redesigning, and labor happens behind the scenes.

The install.

My hands are tired!!!

Undercharging.

A lot of talented people burn themselves out because they don’t value their time properly.

Practice constantly.

Watch videos, work in a real shop, and put in the years.

Honestly, I think people should work under someone for at least five years before opening their own shop. You owe that respect to the person teaching you before becoming competition.

I think more and more work will end up outsourced to other countries.

At the same time, truly high-end custom craftsmanship will probably become even more valuable because fewer people are mastering it at a high level.

Well… I’m only good at three things, and this is one of them.