Readers of Field Mag should be well familiar with Allmansright by now. Since our first interview with co-founder Livio Melo in 2020 to their more recent collaboration with fellow New York brand Hikerkind, we've been excited to keep tabs on the ultralight gear lab's growth since launch. Whether this all rings a bell or not, the above short doc by REI is well worth a watch.
Within the film, produced by REI Co-op's Path Ahead Ventures—an acceleration program for BIPOC-founded outdoor industry brands of which Allmansright is a part of the inaugural cohort—viewers will learn more about the beginnings of the humble brand, from founders Livio Melo and Jennifer Jacobsson's distinct upbringings in the Dominican Republic and Sweden to their shared life in New York City, love for hiking, and environmental efforts that help build a better future for all outdoorists.
Jennifer Jacobsson & Livio Melo of Allmansright | Photo by REI
As REI reports, founders of color represent just 1% of entrepreneurs in the outdoor industry today. Through programs like Path Ahead, through BIPOC-led comunity groups, and through the support of readers and consumers (such as everyone reading this), we can help make the outdoors more inclusive and more representative of a possible equitable future.
Applications for REI’s Navigate program, which supports emerging BIPOC outdoor businesses, are open from 6 February through 12 March, 2023. Learn more here.
