I first got into making bags about nine years ago when I was in high school. I grew up in Moab, Utah and would often go on canyoneering, backpacking, and bikepacking trips out in the desert. The rugged and rocky terrain is hard on gear, and things get quickly destroyed, so designing and making gear that could hold up to that environment was an appealing challenge. My good friends in town, the Nicholaisens, owned the gear company Nunatak and would let me use their industrial machines to learn how to sew. I made my first canyoneering backpack out of scrap material from around the shop, and was hooked. I have been making my own gear ever since.
Recently I decided to make my passion for designing outdoor gear into a business and started Kawa in 2023. The story of the name comes from my partner, who taught me the word for river in Japanese, “Kawa”. The name was solidified after we went on a four month long tour through Japan and Korea, biking up and down the many mountainous river valleys throughout the islands.
My goal with all Kawa products is to create durable, easy to use, and function driven designs. Creating products that are durable and repairable is one of the best ways to keep products in use and reduce waste. Kawa products are mainly made with natural or recycled materials, further lessening the environmental impact they have in their lifetime.
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