Type Private LLC Founder Ian Ivarson | Founded 2006 Parent company Ivarson USA LLC | |
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Industry Fashion, Retail, Wholesale Headquarters San Francisco, California, United States Area served North America, South Africa, Europe & Asia Pacific | ||
IVAR (also known as IVAR Backpacks and IVAR Packs) is a brand of backpacks known for their patented main-compartment ergonomic shelving design. The shelf design concept was created originally by Ian Ivarson in 1998, who was a high school student at the time. Following graduation from college, Ivarson launched IVAR in July 2006 from Marin County, California.
Company background
In 1998, an entrepreneurial Ian Ivarson conceived and designed an internal shelf system for backpacks with an aim to create better organization and weight distribution ergonomics. At the time, Ivarson was a high school student at Marin Catholic in Kentfield, California. Early prototypes were developed with a sewer in Berkeley, California, and eventually progressed to direct relationships with unionized factories in Asia. During early development, Ivarson also filed for patents. Until the actual launch of IVAR, development of the Ivar shelf system backpacks was slow as Ivarson was a college student and student-athlete during most that time.
Following graduation from the University of Denver, Ivarson launched IVAR in July 2006 with one single daypack model from an office and warehouse on Bank Street in San Anselmo, California. Today, the IVAR company has evolved with more models supported by a network of professionals.
While IVAR product is sold via nearly all retail channels, it’s considered a specialty item given its limited distribution. Ivar is sold in an array of brick and mortar retailers in the sporting goods, outdoor, luggage, and bookstore categories.
The IVAR Shelf System is patented, protected under no. 6474524. Ivarson USA LLC, formed in California in April 2002, is the owner of Ivar. The Company is supported by and managed, according to their website, by a network of designers and business development professionals.