Cottage brands have taken root in all corners of the U.S. and world. They’ve sprung up in basements, buses, spare bedrooms …. and of course garages! Growing from humble beginnings, some now inhabit larger workshops and warehouse spaces.
But no matter where people’s craft takes place, cottage outdoor brands are united in their commitment to producing quality products and taking care of their customers.
It’s no secret that here at Garage Grown Gear we’re all about elevating cottage brands. But it’s one thing to say it and another thing to really internalize what that means for people’s livelihoods and in turn lives.
We hope this epic photo tour through the workshops of a couple dozen small, cottage brands leaves you feeling downright inspired — as it did for us!
allmansright
Hometown: Based in the Bronx
Signature Product(s): X Kross and Krafs Stuff Sack
Bum Knee Designs
Hometown: Asheville, North Carolina
Signature Product(s): UL Wallets
Bushka's Kitchen
Hometown: San Francisco, California
Signature Product(s): Zesty Zoodles in Avocado Sauce
Chicken Tramper Ultralight Gear
Hometown: Hancock, Michigan
Signature Product(s): Water Bottle Sleeve and Phone Pocket
Cloud Gear
Hometown: Fort Worth, Texas
Signature Product(s): Bear Bag
Dandee Packs
Hometown: Boston, Massachusetts
Signature Product(s): The Standard Pack
Hometown: Based in a Roaming School Bus
Signature Product(s): Intuition Sandal
Hometown: Portland, Oregon
Signature Product(s): Mushroom Pot Pie
Frau Fowler
Hometown: Colorado Springs, Colorado
Signature Product(s): Tooth Powder Paste
Gryphon Gear
Hometown: West Bloomfield, Michigan
Signature Product(s): Aries Quilt
High Tail Designs
Hometown: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Signature Product(s): The Ultralight Fanny Pack and Ultralight Stuff Sacks
Hometown: Biddeford, Maine
Signature Product(s): 2400 Windrider Pack
LiteAF
Hometown: South Hampton, New Jersey
Signature Product(s): Curve X35L Pack
Lone Star Ultralight
Hometown: Plano, Texas
Signature Product(s): UL Shoulder Water Bottle Pouch
Napacks
Hometown: Oceanside, California
Signature Product(s): Ultralight Pouches
.pac
Hometown: Cimarron, Colorado
Signature Product(s): .pac (pronounced 'period pack' — to carry supplies for that time of the month)
Purple Rain Adventure Skirts
Hometown: Medford, Oregon
Signature Product(s): Adventure Skirt
Range
Hometown: Vancouver, Washington
Signature Product(s): Meal Bar
Hometown: Boulder, Colorado
Signature Product(s): Flex Fanny Pack
Hometown: Kake, Alaska
Signature Product(s): Sure-Dry Hip Pack
Hometown: Portland, Oregon
Signature Product(s): Polartec Alpha Hoodie
Trailtopia
Hometown: Rochester, Minnesota
Signature Product(s): Pesto Chicken Pasta and Fruit Crisp Desserts
Hometown: Minneapolis, Minnesota
4 comments
James
Would love to see a UK version of this list !
Meanwhile I have noted a few items for when I eventually come over to the States to walk the AP; cancelled this year as they have stopped giving out 6 month Visa’s.Eric B.
This is how Tarptent began. Now they have outgrown “garage grown” and into a good sized business. I’ve owned 5 of their tents and still have 3 of them.
Kim Kremer
I think CTUG’s signature product is their packs with the frame made from arrow shafts. That’s what convinced me to go with them over other internal frame packs. In the unlikely event one of the shafts breaks, I can purchase a replacement at an outdoor store. 900 gm pack carries a wide variety of load weights comfortably. (I’ve carried from about 12 pounds to about 30; I’ve read others have carried as much as 40 pounds comfortably.)
Justin M Young
Very cool to see: just makes me realize, did most of these people go from die hard BP guys to sitting over sewing machine? The sewing machine is ubiquitous in almost every photo, and I assume that most of these people did not grew up sewing, but were only driven to it by a thirst for making their own perfect piece of lightweight gear??
Can you ask the community? I would very much like an answer to how these folks got started doing what they do…their motivation.