MacPac

The New Zealand company Macpac has been based in Christchurch - at the foot of the Southern Alps - since 1973. The then 19-year-old founder Bruce McIntyre borrowed 2000 dollars from his parents, overdrew his account by another 700 and bought the inventory of the saddler Charlie McComick, who had been making backpacks in Christchurch on the South Island since the 1950s. Bruce soon developed his own designs for his newly founded company Macpac, which were extremely robust and could withstand more than all the other products on the market at the time. In the first two years, Bruce put on an impressive one-man show, taking care of design and material purchasing as well as production and sales. The breakthrough for the still young company came in 1975. Bruce developed the first and then unique Torre Eger for Oceania and Asia, an innovative backpack with an internal frame construction whose high demand exceeded all expectations. Bruce now expanded the company, moved into a 1000 square meter factory building, brought his parents and brother on board as partners and hired his first employees. Today, the company's philosophy remains the same. Macpac is all about inspiring people to discover nature with high-quality, well-designed and durable products. These goals still come before growth and profit today. From the very beginning, Macpac has worked with athletes, mountain sports enthusiasts and climbers to create products that are ideally suited to their specific use. Macpac inspires with innovation and classic sporty design. The multifunctional product range now includes baby/toddler carriers, tents, sleeping bags and a clothing line. What the New Zealanders build seems somewhat unconventional by European standards. But that's a good thing, because it means they have and retain their very own character and stand out from the uniformity that is cooked up in many places. Today, the Macpac company employs more than 60 people in Christchurch, New Zealand's second largest city. Wherever they produce, Macpac ensures that their company standards regarding working conditions and environment protection are adhered to in all production facilities. Repair, re-use, recycle is also one of the top priorities for this manufacturer.