If you’ve ever met Chris Gomez or picked up one of his handmade pieces, you know there’s nothing ordinary about Kaiju Cut & Sew. But this story doesn’t start at a craft fair or a studio table—it starts with burnout.
“Some may call it a midlife crisis, but I call it tech burnout,” Chris says. After more than 20 years as an engineer, he was ready for a change. A big one. The original plan? Open a brewery. But with limited capital, he pivoted. “I ended up teaching myself how to sew, and as they say, the rest is history.”
The name Kaiju comes from Chris’s love for vintage Godzilla movies—it’s the Japanese word for “strange creature.” He actually planned to name his Corgi “Kaiju,” but she ended up with the name Waffles instead. The name stuck with him, though. “I named the company Kaiju,” he says. “My branding designer came up with the Cut & Sew as well as designing the logo.”
Chris’s approach to making is deeply intentional. All of his fabrics come from Japan, and the leather he uses is ethically sourced. “I also believe in repurposing material whenever I can,” he says.
He keeps a “weekly make list” to stay focused. Most of his creative work happens early in the morning, with instrumental hip hop or Boards of Canada playing in the background, coffee in hand. It’s quiet, methodical, and full of purpose.
Ask him to name a favorite product, and he won’t hesitate. “Whatever I’m currently working on!” he laughs. But his dicebags hold a special place. “The Dicebag shape is inspired by a Taiwanese dish my mother used to make me as a kid called Zongzi. It’s a rice dumpling wrapped in bamboo leaves & it’s delicious!” That design also helped him land his first wholesale account.
Like so many small businesses, Kaiju Cut & Sew hit a major hurdle in early 2020. Chris had just gone full-time with the brand when the pandemic hit. So he pivoted—again. He started making face masks. Not just to keep the business afloat, but to support the community. “We were able to raise over $30k for 16 different charities all thanks to our incredible customers.”
One of the more surreal moments? Being asked to work on Marvel’s Daredevil series. “That was one of the biggest, most recent surprises.”
Chris draws daily inspiration from the local art scene and his circle of creative friends. “They inspire me to make quality & meaningful products on a daily basis.” He hopes that joy comes through in everything he makes.
When he’s not in the studio, you might find him at Brentwood Social House, Kyōko Coffee, or Spokesman. He’s also behind Mahjong Mafia, a growing club he started this year that now boasts around 60 members. He’s already looking ahead to new beer releases in 2025 and planning the next Lunar New Year celebration at Austin Beerworks.
Running a small business comes with its own kind of hustle. “You take on EVERY job role: maker, owner, social media manager, etc…” he says. And he’s learned it’s okay to say no to opportunities that don’t align.
Chris is all about creating things with purpose and showing up for his community—whether through curated markets, Mahjong games, or collaborations with other Asian-owned brands.
At Parker + Scott, we’re always drawn to brands that do more than make great products—they tell stories, build community, and put heart into every detail. Chris does exactly that. His journey from tech burnout to full-time maker is one of reinvention, resilience, and deep intention—qualities we admire and strive to celebrate on our shelves.
Whether it’s through his sustainably sourced materials, the creativity behind his dicebags, or the way he uses his platform to lift up others, Chris’s work reminds us that small businesses can make a big impact. We’re proud to have Kaiju Cut & Sew in the shop—and even prouder to call Chris part of the Parker + Scott family.
Check out his work at kaijucutandsew.com or follow along on Instagram at @kaijucutandsew.