What's up primates.. If you're reading this you are probably wondering
"Who the !@#$ is MMT?"
If so, you've come to the right place.
(Disclaimer for the Marines, there's a lot of reading ahead. Ahh.. Who are we kidding, they don't know how to read let alone the word disclaimer. Of course we love our crayon eating counterparts though, all in good fun) Anywho... On to our long winded origin story:
So who is MMT? Molle Monkey Tactical is a veteran owned single man custom gear shop with over 10 years of experience behind a sewing machine. Well, that's the TLDR version anyway.. If you like novels then by all means please continue.
MMT's story humbly began in 2011 when owner Devin Litton joined the Air Force fresh out of high school. Once through Basic, Devin was surprised to find himself sitting behind a sewing machine in tech school while training for a career field known as Aircrew Flight Equipment (AFE) in Wichita Falls, TX. Devin had a background in Graphic Design/ Multimedia Production while attending a career center his junior and senior year in high school. He always found ways to express creativity through different outlets and knew he wanted to pursue some kind of career in graphic/product design for a clothing or skateboard company after joining the military. Oddly enough AFE was not the first career choice on his wish list and yet it landed right in his lap. From the day he touched his first Consew 206-RB compliments of Uncle Sam (the workorse of many rigger and fab shops across all branches in the DoD), he knew he found a whole new outlet to pour his creative energy into and instantly became hooked.
Through this AFSC Devin learned how to repair bad stitching on military gear meant to be pre-positioned on military aircraft and learned federal stitching standards, mil-specs and fabrication techniques that were vital to gear meant to endure the elements and ensure aircrew safety. He learned the art of sewing fabrication and built things from scratch by learning to interpret Boeing Engineer blueprints for items ranging from aircraft window covers, pitot tube covers, accessory bags, nets for hatches, protective padding for grates etc. He also learned repairs and modificatins for gear ranging from restraint harnesses, floatation equipment, parachutes, survival kit containers and emergency oxygen equipment that were kept aboard USAF aircraft. In 2013 Devin came back from a deployment to Qatar with a little money saved. While there he saw different coalition forces and would find old uniforms and gear at the local "Slam Attic" thrift trailer. He brought some of these things home and began using them as practice to build things like camelbak covers and counterweight pouches for fun. With some of the extra money he saved while away, Devin went and bought his first domestic sewing machine and some materials and started making more gear from the kitchen table of his apartment off base.
During his time at his first duty station in Wichita, Kansas, a big passtime for Devin was paintball but he found it was a bit expensive and quite messy and so he took an interest in airsoft as a more realistic alternative. Ironically, it turned out to be much more expensive once he began to learn about mil-sim and all the different gear that people would wear to emulate specific military units in particular era's and operations during their skirmishes. Devin was intrigued by all the details these hobbyists knew about different types of gear and eventually the realization came to him that he could provide accurate replications of pieces of gear that were no longer obtainable or now highly expensive collectors items. He had learned meticulous attention to detail and invaluable sewing skills so far in his USAF career and this was the perfect way to put them to work and grow. It also helped that he was stationed in the heart of the midwest, in the middle of paintball and airsoft Mecca. Through this process, he began to learn about Crye Precision and their popular lightweight pouch line. Devin began to specialize in 330d repro's and created an Instagram account where he would post his products and sell them to his followers who ranged from airsoft/ re-enactment hobbyists to private military contractors to LEO's to active service members.. With the newfound exposure to various aspects of the defense and airsoft industries through his customers, Devin found himself making all types of custom gear and modifying existing gear from established companies for his growing customer base. As a result he gained an intimate understanding of tactical fabrics, production processes and construction techniques performed on various sewing machines, along with invaluable knowledge of the gear industy and many of its products. His fascination with gear production only persisted and before he knew it, he had acquired a collection of 7 commercial sewing machines, all of which were crammed in a crowded upstairs townhouse bedroom where he spent many evenings after work putting out orders. During this time Devin spent 5-1/2 years servicing KC-135's while on Active Duty and in 2017 he returned home to Dayton, Ohio to work on C-17's in the Reserve after finishing his first enlistment.
After a short period of leave Devin began working part time at a small company named Smithfly that specialized in manufacturing gear for hunting/fly fishing and fabricating inflatable raft frames in Troy, Ohio. During his time there he learned the art of metal fabrication and also was their sole sewist/product designer for all in-house waxed cotton hunting gear and raft accessories. Before long, Devin had convinced the owner that he could be a more effective sewist if he could move his own collection of machines in to ramp up capabilities and also run MMT part time. While working in the creative environment Smithfly provided, Devin started to learn newer techniques in metal fabrication and design that began to change his approach on sewing gear. Under owner Ethan Smith's advice and assistance, Devin obtained an LLC for MMT in 2019. He would fabricate parts for raft frames and accessories in the mornings and work on sewing orders for MMT in the afternoons. In 2020 at the height of the Pandemic, Devin chose to leave Smithfly to pursue more opportunities through MMT and moved into a historic building right around the corner. In a move that would set his shop up for much more manufacturing capability, he struck a deal with his old boss and bought Smithfly's arsenal of sewing equipment and combined it with his own upon leaving. MMT is now run out of the historic Troy Sunshade Building and is the first sewing operation in the building since the original company left in 1982. Devin still serves part time as a Traditional Reservist while running MMT.
MMT's goal now is to provide quality gear and innovative solutions whether via modifications or product design. We look forward to working with you and will continue to put out kickass gear for as long as you'll continue to need it. Welcome to the party, we're glad you came!
