About

Our founder, Jennifer Villamin, went on her first backpacking trip right at the start of the pandemic. Literally, she was on top of a mountain with friends in California when the "shelter-in-place" order was declared, March 2020. Originally a competitive outrigger canoe paddler, she and another fellow paddler eventually ended up spending most of the pandemic hiking and backpacking since the shelter-in-place order prohibited people from being in multi-person canoes - it was not possible to social distance in an outrigger canoe.

Although excited to be on the trails, she struggled to find a backpack that fit her frame. She went through four different backpacks over a span of three years during the pandemic. She wanted a functional backpack that was light, minimal, durable, waterproof, and fit her female form comfortably. She had trouble finding that backpack. So, in 2022, she decided to teach herself how to sew and started creating it. 

 

While simultaneously teaching herself how to sew and figuring out how to create her backpack, she discovered other women were also struggling with the same problem of trying to find a backpack that fit. She also noticed a lack of diversity on hiking trails - particularly women of color. It made her wonder, "Do women of color go backpacking?"

 

Thus, Jennifer decided to start her own outdoor gear company. She wanted to create lightweight, outdoor gear that would cater to the female form and inspire other women of color to explore the great outdoors.