A catchy brand name and a simple logo. In contrast to this image, the New Zealand-based outdoor brand "Macpac (macpac)" combines toughness and functional beauty that would satisfy even the most serious mountain climber. We will now look at the background and appeal of this brand, which has been gradually gaining support in the fashion scene as well, and which is surprisingly little known.
VOL.1 The Unknown Roots of a Long-established Outdoor Brand.
The brand began as a pack made by a 19-year-old young man in his home warehouse.
Bruce McIntyre, the founder of MacPac, started making backpacks in 1973 when he was just 19 years old. Bruce's love of mountain climbing led him to make backpacks in the warehouse of his home. The first pack he made was a cotton and polyester blend made by Birkmire of Australia. Today, the mainstream packs are lightweight and conform to the body, but at the time, they were heavy-duty packs with frames attached to the outside of the body.
However, the quality of the product was recognized, and in 1975, the company began producing expedition backpacks for a local mountaineering club. At that time, he developed a model called the "Tray Egger," which was the first New Zealand brand to use an internal frame. With its revolutionary structure, which was both comfortable to carry and easy to balance even with a full load, it was the birth of gear that could truly be called the foundation of the brand. Since then, the brand has developed functional materials such as "AzTec," which has become synonymous with the brand, and has become famous as an advanced backpack brand.
His functionality, originality, and outstanding sense of design were highly appreciated by those around him. In 1987, he expanded his business to the Netherlands, Switzerland, Germany, and the U.K. In 1996, he began to sell his products in Japan.
Today, MacPac has a strong presence in Japan's outdoor fashion and activity boom, including festivals and mountaineering. With its unique functionality and design, the company continues to evolve and is loved by people as a comprehensive outdoor manufacturer that supports a wide range of activities.
An unwavering mindset is what leads to the present.
The "1973 CELLO" and "1973 GECKO" are still sold as classic models. These long-selling models have been in the lineup since the company's founding and have been accepted for nearly 40 years, but their popularity is not just due to their design. The reason for this is the unique materials and comfort of carrying. The reason for the item's longevity is its simplicity and durability, and the fact that it has been designed to provide the best possible fit for everyone, such as by adopting a harness that works with the body's movements. These original innovations were groundbreaking ideas in the 1970s, and are said to have influenced many manufacturers.
There is one more thing that MacPac values when it comes to outdoor gear: feedback from climbers and users who trust and use its products. We take into account the feedback we receive from climbers and users who trust and use our products. By reflecting such feedback and repeating product tests in the wilderness of New Zealand, our home base, we are able to develop reliable products that can withstand harsh environments.
Furthermore, they do not lack respect for nature, which is also the root of their products. They have established their own five environmental policies: educate people about environmental issues through their products, conserve resources over the long term by increasing durability, encourage repair rather than retire( and replace), reduce disposable products, and give back to nature. This attitude, which has remained unchanged since the company's founding and continues to face the future, is also the reason why the company has been supported in many scenes, including outdoor activities and fashion.
