Rock N' Roll Knife Fight was officially founded in 2013 by Richie Riot but has been an ever evolving company with a few different names since around 2005.
Originally the intention was screenprinted designs under the name Riot Gear Clothing. Then as we began to add new skills and products like bullet belts & jewelry the name evolved into Riot Gear Manufacturing. Eventually with the addition of a few well known Alt. brand names being added to the catalog of merchandise we decided that Riot Gear would now become a brand name for original designs. That is how the name Rock N' Roll Knife Fight was born.
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The idea for the name just kind of happened while I was playing with some logo ideas. Since at the time I was selling knives as well as music themed merchandise. The knife fight scene in music video for Beat It by Michael Jackson kinda came into my head, hence the name. Then I incorporated the gas mask from Riot Gear Clothing™ to pay homage to the original company then added the crossed switchblades that I had just drawn the day before. Now RRKF is the store and I still use Riot Gear Manufacturing as a brand name for the products that I personally make. I told a friend the idea for the name and he agreed that it was perfect. Since then I have invested a lot of blood, sweat and tears into this company.
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The company is constantly evolving and we working on new ideas but the name will always be Rock N' Roll Knife Fight. If any new projects come to fruition they will be brands or subsidiaries of the parent company.
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In January 2020 I moved "RRKF" from a workshop in my house and solely direct to consumer into a new home to establish a brick and mortar boutique to compliment my online presence.
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Spring of 2020 hit us with some challenges when the Covid-19 pandemic hit. We were shut down for 3 months and people were not interested in clothing at the moment. Because there was no reason to get dressed up, no shows, no clubs, no parties. That was when we decided to pivot and add records. The addition of physical media (records, CD's, books, etc) helped keep us going.
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Now as of 2024 we have become a destination for people from all over the Delaware Valley.
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UPDATE: January 1, 2025
The decision has been made to move from Marshall Road, to the Lansdowne business district. It has more foot traffic and is closer to stores that I share customers with, like Scrappy Cat. The new location is a little bigger and so I will be adding more inventory, PLUS there will be live music in-store occasionally. I am still working out the details on that.
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"The future is unwritten" - Joe Strummer
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