“Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards.” -Soren Kierkegaard
Here at Diamond Brand Gear, we’re all about blending the old and new, striking a balance between innovation and reflection. That’s why, with the start of the new year, we wanted to take a look back at our favorite moments from last year, from exciting new product releases to our favorite press hits. A huge thank you to our entire Diamond Brand Gear family—from our talented Makers to our loyal customers—for making 2019 such a success!
Wall Tents – In 2019, we began selling our legendary Wall Tent direct from the factory to everyone, including summer camps, outdoor programs, and individual consumers. Completely customizable, built-to-last, and pre-seasoned, our canvas creations have long been staples at camps across the nation. Even the Wall Tents found at New Mexico’s famed Philmont Scout Ranch come from our factory in North Carolina.
Biltmore Collection – First introduced in 2017, our Biltmore Collection combines the breathtaking beauty and superb craftsmanship of the Biltmore Estate. The collection’s locally sourced fabric and hardware take their inspiration from stately 20th century trunks found deep in the Biltmore’s archives. In 2019, we were thrilled to announce an update to the collection with brand new styles and colors, including the Biltmore Buckspring Overnighter, Biltmore Eleos Tote, Biltmore Crush, and Biltmore Shift Tote.
Eleos – Adventures take all shapes and sizes. So in 2019 we made a bag that does, too. The Eleos puts versatility front and center. The bag transitions effortlessly from tote to backpack in no time flat. Just tuck away the unneeded straps for a clean look. Streamlined pockets, a top zipper, and hidden water bottle holders further support this adaptability. So throw it over your back, or hand carry it on your next urban outing.
Day Tripper – We designed our Day Tripper with a particularly careful eye toward being flight- and travel- friendly. Grab handles at the end of the bag allow for vertical carry down airplane aisles or through crowded lobbies and painless removal from overhead bins or car trunks. Plus two outer pockets provide easy access to your phone, wallet, keys, headphones, water bottle and other necessities. No frantic searching for your phone charger or favorite book just before your flight leaves!
Night Tripper – TSA-approved for effortless travel. Created for easy access on all fronts, the zipper top opens wide for clear visibility of goods and stays open for quick access, while the overlap flap gives a clean finish, hiding the zipper for a polished look. Accessible open pockets on the side and back give you extra space with trouble-free handling.
Shift Tote – We gave the timeless tote a modern upgrade. Removable leather handles and all-metal hardware add a touch of class to this time-honored design. As a bonus, an optional snap-on pocket doubles as it’s very own small clutch. The ideal size to keep keys, wallet, phone and other necessities, the Sinum Pocket moonlights as the perfect crossbody bag for concerts, festivals or quick trips around town. Talk about a two-for-one!
Wide Open Spaces – “The Great Day Pack by Diamond Brand Gear is said to be perfect for the adventurer, survivalist, and prepper alike. After getting one myself and testing it out, I’d say it fits any adventure I could imagine getting caught up in.” Read the rest of the article here.
WNC – “The granddaddy of WNC gear makers, Fletcher-based Diamond Brand Gear has introduced a line of bags built for imbibing on-the-go. The Double Take and Double Take Tall are customizable in terms of fabric and strap choices, with ‘chilly bags’ on the inside for ice packs. The closure doubles as a handy bottle opener.” Read the rest of the article here.
Outside Summer Buyer’s Guide – “Diamond Brand, based in Asheville, North Carolina, handcrafts this cooler using leftover material from a local textile plant. Don’t scoff at factory scraps—we think the Double Take is the best looking of the bunch…At 6.5 liters, it’s big enough to hold a six-pack with ice, but we used it most frequently to bring after-work snacks to the climbing gym.” Read the rest of the article here.
AFAR – “For toting lunch down to the lake and other short jaunts from the cooler, the canvas Diamond Brand Double Take ($64–$69) with removable insulated roll-top ‘Chilly Bag’ is better than a picnic basket: Carry it like a shoulder bag or strap it to your cruiser bike.” Read the rest of the article here.
Recoil OffGrid – “If this pack gives you that vintage vibe, that’s because Diamond Brand has been around since 1881. Yep, the 19th century. So it knows a thing or two about making durable goods, such as the Great Day pack.” Read the rest of the article here.
Scout’s Honor (Our History with Scouting) – “For nearly 90 years, we at Diamond Brand have taken pride in our history with the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) and their commitment to building character and developing leadership in today’s youth and tomorrow’s leaders. In 1931, we began manufacturing products specifically for the Boy Scouts with the introduction of our canvas Yucca Pack – the first pack of the Boy Scouts of America and a famed original creation. Soon, everything with the Boy Scout label, from packs to tents, came out of our Singer sewing machines in Lower Manhattan.” Read the rest of the blog here.
Philmont Scout Ranch (A Wilderness Home) – “Nestled into the mountains of northeastern New Mexico, Philmont is the Boy Scout’s largest National High Adventure Base. Since its first camping season in 1939, more than 1 million youths and leaders have wandered through its midst, searching for adventure, lessons in leadership, and a wilderness experience unlike any other. In addition to backpacking across the reservation’s punishing terrain, these Scouts and Venturers may encounter anything from horseback riding and burrow packing to gold panning and sport shooting during their journeys.” Read the rest of the blog here.
Military-Grade (Our History with the U.S. Military) – “For over 100 years, we at Diamond Brand Gear have taken pride in our history with the U.S. military. Since WWI, we’ve supported our soldiers with handcrafted tents, packs and any number of accessories. With Memorial Day just around the corner, we wanted to share our long partnership with America’s armed forces with you. In the 1940s, Diamond Brand jumped into the war effort alongside the rest of the country, supplying the U.S. military with top-notch canvas products from tents to packs.” Read the rest of the blog here.
Established in 1881 (Our History) – “Before our playground was canvas and cotton, it was fur and feathers. In 1881, German immigrant Abraham Kemp settled in Philadelphia with his wife Amelia. There, Abraham founded a premier fur and feather distribution business. Neither the arrangement nor the location lasted long. By 1920, the company had moved to New York City, where it transformed into a drop cloth manufacturing company. The canvas sheets painters lay down to keep the floor clean while they work, drop cloths were an early sign of the company’s future focus on craft.” Read the rest of the blog here.
Behind-the-Seams (Our Design Process) – “We handcraft our gear right in the heart of the Carolina mountains. From testing new fabrics and employing LEAN manufacturing to exploring micro-innovations and prioritizing customizations, we’re constantly searching for new ways to exceed our customers’ expectations. We’re excited to be taking you ‘behind-the-seams’ of our production process—from the design and sourcing to the sewing and upcycling—of your favorite bags and tents. This week we’re giving you a peek at our design process with our Design Engineer Allie Durr.” Read the rest of the blog here.