Q+A: Kavu

Seattle based brand Kavu are a “true outdoor” brand, established and in the hands of true outdoor enthusiasts. Founded in 1993 by founder Bobby Barr, the brand started with just one product – the iconic and revolutionary, Strapcap. Since then the brand has grown into a truly worldwide brand and is sold in stores all over the World. We had a chat with International Sales Director Jeremy Goodman.

When was Kavu founded? Could you explain a bit about the background of the brand?

KAVU was founded in 1993. Barry Barr, president and founder was running fishing boats in Alaska and would always lose his hat in the wind. At the time TEVA sandals were just getting hot. He took some of the burly sandal webbing, stitched it around the band of his hat and with a clasp could tighten the hat to withstand the outdoor conditions. Problem solved and product invented. 25 years later these hats are still made in Seattle and the brand has evolved to apparel, bags and accessories.

What does the name mean?

This is where the KAVU story really get’s good and it actually takes place prior to the invention of the Strapcap. Barry and his family grew up in the San Juan Islands - a small island chain between mainland US and Vancouver Island, British Columbia. His family had a small plane as transport. To check weather they’d call air control and if the weather was good enough to fly the response was KAVU - An aviation acronym that stands for "clear above visibility unlimited.” The term KAVU became their family motto and philosophy. It’s simple. We don’t know if tomorrow will come, so we might as well live today to the fullest. This means wake up early, work your butt off, get outside, and play hard. Smile and sweat and laugh as much as possible. Everyday you can do this and lay your head on the pillow at night exhausted with a big smile - this is a KAVU day.

How big is the team at Kavu? What does a typical day at Kavu HQ look like?

Our Seattle HQ has 19 people. Of course everyone has a role but KAVU is a team of problem-solvers. No one is above pitching in and helping. A few weeks ago I organized a last minute sample shipment to Germany. 3 people (president included) packed and stacked boxes and stayed after business hours to get the job done.

We’re located in the Ballard neighborhood so here’s some great running. Most days a group from the office runs across the Ballard bridge, through Discovery Park or the Golden Gardens Stairs.

What are the inspirations behind what Kavu do?

The inspiration is built into the brand. It’s the KAVU philosophy and lifestyle. Check out our youtube channel for great videos like “What we do” and "Perspective from Jeff Shapiro”.

Kavu is popular all over the World - what is this down to? Which are the most popular countries for Kavu?

KAVU is popular all over the world for several reasons. One which I’ve already touched on - the KAVU philosophy and lifestyle. But also because KAVU stands for fun. We don’t take ourselves too seriously. We are different and that’s ok. We want to be different. This sense of fun, free and unlimited lifestyle resonates with customers. Also, we try and treat everyone like gold - customers, retail buyers, retail staff, agents and distributors.

Which are the best selling Kavu products?

KAVU hats are super heritage. Our tops in apparel sell great. But the real star is our bag collection - in particular the shoulder bag styles Rope Bag and Rope Sling, the climbing chalk bag Peak Seeker, and the accessory pouch Pixie Pouch.

Kavu are based in Seattle - what are the best hikes around the area?

Too many to count. Go to Big Si or Mailbox Peak off I-90, Lake Serene and Bridal Falls near Index off Highway 2. If you’re in the area during the fall do the really pretty and really tough 18 mi Enchantments Traverse.

Store Q+A: Urban Industry

Something that we’ve asked a lot of brands and stores about since we started the magazine is the crossover between everyday and outdoor clothing. This was perhaps more relevant than most when we put the question to Dan from Urban Industry, who recently took the decision to expand the range of outdoor brands available at his Eastbourne based store. To find out why he’s deciding to do this, and learn more about this ace store, we sent some questions over.

When was Urban Industry founded? Could you explain a bit about the background of the store?

We opened the store in November 2002 in a back street of Eastbourne. I’d been working for a web design agency and had been made redundant and my girlfriend at the time had hated her job, so we just decided to try and make a go of a store. I had my own brand called Dirty habit which was based in the Mountain Biking market, so we thought we could run that from the store too.

What brands did you stock initially?

We opened with a handful of brands like Dickies, Addict, Mooks, Alphanumeric and other kinds of skate cross over brands. These brands were based in the ‘counter culture’ as you probably could have called it back then, hip hop, graffiti, skating etc and nowadays you’d just hang the word ‘streetwear’ over it.  My background had been BMX’ing, but I’d always worn the brands of the skateboarders we hung out with, so the store followed my tastes.

You mentioned to us that the store is going to shift to be more outdoor focused - do you feel there is a crossover now between everyday and outdoor wear?

Sort of yes. It’s been a fun and interesting few seasons as trends have led us to outdoor brands like Patagonia, Arcteryx, The North Face etc. For me it’s a fresh chance to put a stake in the ground for what Urban Industry is and stands by. Brands like these make clothing that actually works in terms of durability and functionality, they stand the test of time and they look cool! We’ve been in business almost 17 years and we’ve gone in and around trends, but we’ve always kept to the streetwear vibe, hopefully interesting independent brands with a big dose of the best of the big brands like Nike and adidas. We want to present the store as somewhere where you can purchase a cool pair of sneakers but also a jacket fit for purpose that would work up a mountain as much as it does on the street. Functional fashion that is made for daily use, accessible for the most part in terms of cost too. We’re not chasing the high fashion route of a nylon shell jacket for 300-400 quid whatever, even for fashion what’s the point if it doesn’t keep you dry? A logo?

Where did your passion for Outdoor tech come from?

When I was younger, I used to do a lot of walking on the Sussex downs with my family as we had a dog. Holidays were always in North Wales, the Lake District or Scotland. I just seem to have this fascination with all things military, camping and survival. A guy called Peter Duncan  who was a Blue Peter presenter did a spin off show called ‘Duncan Dares’ and he did this two-parter where he learnt how to survive on his own with the help of Lofty Wiseman an SAS survival expert. I loved it! I must have watching it 50 times over the months on our family VCR.

Along with all this I developed a ‘problem’ for outdoor jackets from brands like Lowe Alpine, Berghaus, Mountain Equipment, I just couldn’t afford them! My bible was a yearly catalogue from a store called ‘Survival Aids’ based in Penrith. I’d pour over the Ventile jackets, military Bergen’s and these huge knives with survival gadgets in the hilt. I dread to think what my parents thought I might turn out like…

We're big fans of your Fish Industry tees - do you plan on doing more own brand product?

Thanks!  Yes, I was really pleased with how they came out and it’s given me the confidence to produce more own label products for Urban Industry. I’m in the process of sourcing quality pieces and hopefully  exploring more sustainable options too as I think we need to try and add that into all that we do from here on in where possible.

What are the top brands for you at the moment?

At the moment it’s the big boys like Nike, Vans and the Outdoor labels like Patagonia and The North Face. We’re also selling staple workwear from brands like Carhartt WIP and Dickies. We’re also seeing a good reaction when brands like Converse hook up with Gore-Tex® and use the fabric for a classic Chuck. The streetwear/outdoor crossover works very well indeed. I’m also looking forward to seeing more from Nike ACG this and next year as the colour pops are so on point.

What plans do Urban Industry have for the future?

Keep moving forward and developing different sections of the store as we go. As I mentioned I want to add a sustainable element to the store, so we can give customers the option of picking brands that are thinking about their impact on the environment whether its traceable down, less water use, fair trade or whatever. It’s going to be a start as I’m not naïve enough to think it will change everything that we stock over night but it’s a start none the less.

https://www.urbanindustry.co.uk/