about me

SHOE LAB NYC and SAIL DUE WEST are two parts of a New York based design studio, specializing in unique, high quality, handcrafted in America, leather goods. 

My grandfather had a shoe factory, so did my father, I've been a shoe designer for over forty years, I still am. Last year I began designing and making small leather goods. 

The materials I use chosen with a respect and honor for the noble creatures the leather is harvested from. The true magical and beautiful character of the leather is revealed after use. The design is simple and functional.

I design to satisfy my own standards and for the joy of knowing those who have what I make will cherish it over the many years it should last.

Thank you for shopping with us. 

david@sailduewest.WORLD

My grandfather owned a shoe factory, so did my father, I've been a shoe designer for over forty years, I still am. Recently I began designing and making small leather goods.

The materials I use are chosen with respect and honor for the noble creatures the leather is harvested from. The true magical and beautiful character of the leather is revealed after use. The design is simple and functional.

I design to satisfy my own standards and for the joy of knowing those who have what I make will cherish it over the many years it should last.

The brand’s name, Sail Due West, is an allegory, a phrase to incite an action and is also a question. The phrase represents a process I use while traveling through life.

First, I orient myself, to know where I am, where are my feet standing? Where do I want to go now and what is the first step, how do I prepare? I take a hard look at reality, imagining the path and consider the conditions in the world, What’s the weather? Which direction is the wind blowing, which way are the uncontrollable currents moving? Then, with a firm hand on the tiller and tight control of the mainsail sheet, I harden up and move into the wind sailing due west.

David Aaron Siskin

Do the best that you can, with what you have, where you are.

my desk