Topo Designs - Fort Collins, CO
If you haven’t seen a Topo Designs bag or pack on a stranger’s shoulders around town, the airport, or on campus, it’s likely because you simply haven’t noticed. Perhaps you’ve noticed folks laden with retro-classic type bags without 30 years of wear and wondered, “what is that brand?”, and it’s likely Topo. Topo Designs has been making a lasting impacting and growing a near-ubiquitous presence in the world of carrying and bags.
Topo Designs was founded in 2008 by friends and coworkers Jedd Rose and Mark Hansen. After reaching a listless point in his career work in digital content and licensing rights, Rose found inspiration in old camping packs and day-and-a-half type backpacks endowed to him by his parents. Rose loved the simple, timeless, and efficient aesthetic, as well as the nostalgia of the experiences associated with them: camping, hiking, backcountry life.
Eventually, Jedd felt compelled to buy a sewing machine and take a crack at crafting similar bags with his own hands. A few simple prototypes later and Jedd was off. Along with co-worker turned co-founder, Mark Hansen, the two began in Rose’s basement with a basic website making a few simple, retro bag models.
With a bit of luck and superb timing, Jedd and Mark’s bags caught the eye of a Japanese streetwear distributor who soon ordered a few runs of the bags in custom colorways. American “gorpcore” and outdoor wear were growing in appeal in Japanese fashion culture, and the classic styling of the Topo bags harmonized with the movement perfectly.
Partnering with a handful of sewing shops in Colorado and California, Topo Designs began expanding their products into climbing accessories, hats, and other apparel.
Topo has since grown into a favorite brand in the outdoor community. Outdoor-minded weekend warriors carry laptops to and from work in Topo bags as a signal to coworkers about their outdoor interests, as well as a reminder of what they’re working for.
Though bags are the centerpiece of the Topo product line, they have a growing spread of apparel items, ranging from retro fleece pullovers, to socks. Topo Designs is explicitly a design-minded company, and a number of their product collaborations with other companies like Chaco Sandals and New Balance vouch for the company’s design reputation across the industry.
If you’re looking for a bag that doubles as a daily carry and weekend getaway bag, or a large bag for an overseas trip, visit topodesigns.com to see if Topo has a Made in USA bag that fits your fancy.
Note: Since the publication of this story, Topo Designs has moved a significant portion of their manufacturing overseas. The company does commit to ethical sourcing and production with humane factories and employers abroad, though, unfortunately, only a few items from their catalog are still produced in the United States today.