08/24/2026
I stand out a bit in the shop as the sole woman. So it’s not uncommon for people to be curious about my experience as a woman in the trades. While I have plenty of stories of folks being exclusionary or seeking to gatekeep, the most formative experiences have been kinship.
When I returned to college for woodworking I found a tight group of friends. We were all enthralled by design and obsessed with the details. After graduation we collectively started our own woodworking space. It was in that space incidentally, I would work on my first van build.
A decade later I have worked in furniture, cabinet, and metal shops. In every shop I have been fortunate to have been befriended and taught by skilled craftsmen and artisans. I am a vastly better craftsman because of them.
is most notable to me about DM Vans shop is just how skilled this team of guys is. Across the build the team I find myself regularly impressed with each of their drive, level of knowledge, and attention to detail. We nerd out on details that often no one else will ever notice like a meticulously wired battery box, seamless carpeting, or an expertly grain matched repair from customer service.
Every van that leaves the shop is brought to you by this kinship of craftsmen. You would be hard pressed to find a better team. These are my people and couldn’t imagine better guys to build with.
~ Clara, Millwork Assembly Technician
