Lafuma America

Founded by French brothers Victor, Alfred and Gabriel Lafuma, this 78-year-old brand has its beginnings in the 1930s when the brothers with their tanning and saddle-making skills started fashioning haversacks and bags for mountain peasants, holiday campers and the military during World War II. In 1936, they introduced the first modern backpack. Two decades later, they started their camping furniture line, and by the 1980s, Lafuma was producing a complete range of hiking products. Today, the brand is found in more than 60 countries around the world, from Europe and the Middle East, to the Americas and Asia, to Oceania. Lafuma Outdoor is part of the Lafuma Group, which carries three other brands – Millet, a technical gear brand for climbers, skiers and mountaineers; Oxbow, which makes gear for board sports enthusiasts; and Le Chameau, which specialises in products for hunters and traditional outdoor enthusiasts. To thrive in the cutthroat outdoor gear market, Lafuma keeps itself competitive by conducting on-going research and development based on feedback from a team of technical advisors comprising professional and expert mountaineers, skiers, adventure racers and trail runners.