About the Founders

James & David Isaac Gray

Tough Thredz was created by two brothers whose worlds of craftsmanship and performance naturally converged into one purpose: building the strongest, most dependable aerial straps in the industry.

James Gray grew up in Champaign, Illinois, spending his childhood inside the family business, Ducky’s Formal Wear. Surrounded by textiles, tailoring, and precision craftsmanship, he began sewing at just 13 years old. Over the next 40+ years, James mastered the art of garment construction, specialty stitching, and industrial sewing techniques—skills that now form the technical backbone of Tough Thredz. His expertise ensures every strap is crafted with exacting detail, durability, and long-term performance in mind.

David Isaac Gray, also born and raised in Champaign, took his path skyward. A lifelong circus artist, he has performed and trained around the world in more than 60 countries. David’s career includes work with Cirque du Soleil, Franco Dragone’s Le Rêve, Tokyo DisneySea, and appearances on America’s Got Talent, among many others. Aerial straps became his specialty and his signature discipline. Now based in Las Vegas, David continues to perform, coach, and create—serving as the Director of the Shriners & Freemasons Mystic Lodge Circus for Nevada, a charity event benefiting Shriners Children’s Hospital, and one of the newest creator-choreographers for Broadway Bares. He is also the founder of Cirque Exchange, the world’s first open marketplace for the international circus community.

Together, James and David combine decades of craftsmanship with a lifetime of elite performance to deliver professional-grade aerial straps built for artists who demand reliability, comfort, and excellence. Tough Thredz is more than a gear brand—it’s the meeting point of tradition, innovation, and the brothers’ shared commitment to the global circus community.