What do you do when you’re a bag fanatic and lifelong outdoorsman, but all your favorite gear looks great but is too old to work well, and the well-working gear is too technical to take anywhere other than the trail? Well, if you’re Mark Hansen and Jedd Rose the answer is start your own company. And they did. And Topo Designs is it. Over the past handful of years the independent operation has grown from a modest collection of versatile backpacks to an increasingly wide range of bags, packs and now—much to our own excitement—apparel for both men and women. And it’s all made right here in the good old US of A.
We’ve long been a fan of the brand, drawn in by the vintage-inspired aesthetic and kept by the rugged quality and highly-considered functionality. At the core of the company, Topo exists to serve outdoor enthusiasts looking for gear and apparel that fits in with their daily lives, capable of making the transition from a hike in the morning to the office in the afternoon and a bike ride home at night.
We recently caught up with co-founder Jedd Rose to talk more about the Colorado-based brand’s ethos, where he sees the outdoor industry headed, and how their many well-received collaborations came to be. Keep reading to hear it from the horse’s mouth.