Why You Don't See Chic Riot on RevZilla or Cycle Gear (Yet)
One of the questions we get asked from time to time is, "Can I buy Chic Riot on RevZilla, Cycle Gear, or other large motorcycle retailers?"
It's a fair question. The truth is, we've had opportunities over the years to move closer to that direction. We've experimented with manufacturing products like our Lu Lu gloves, graphic tees, hats, and even our Kahling motorcycle jacket. Every one of those experiences taught us something valuable about what it takes to grow a motorcycle gear brand. But since the very beginning, Chic Riot has been built on a different philosophy.
Our Mission
We started as a made-to-order company because we believed there had to be a better way to make women's motorcycle gear. Instead of producing hundreds or thousands of jackets that may never find a rider, we focused on creating gear as it was ordered. It allowed us to reduce waste, pay attention to every detail, and build products that reflected the level of craftsmanship we wanted our name attached to.
As we've spoken with manufacturers over the years, we've run into the same challenge again and again. Most factories require very large minimum order quantities, sometimes 500 pieces or more for a single style, and that's before you account for every size and color. For a small company like ours, that means investing heavily in inventory and hoping it eventually sells. And that model goes against what Chic Riot has always believed.
Quality over Quantity
We never wanted warehouses filled with products that might sit for years. We never wanted to sacrifice quality simply to produce more. We'd rather grow slowly, thoughtfully, and build something we're proud of than chase scale for the sake of it.
That's one of the reasons we've loved partnering with smaller online boutiques like Wind & Throttle. They've supported brands like ours that are trying to do things differently, and they've understood that craftsmanship and purpose sometimes matter more than volume. With that being said it doesn't mean we're standing still.
In fact, behind the scenes, we've been working incredibly hard to make ready-to-wear women's motorcycle gear a reality. We know custom, tailored, made-to-order gear isn't the right fit for every rider. Many women simply want high-quality motorcycle gear they can order today and wear tomorrow.
