Feel Good Friday: Cotopaxi

By Drew Prindle June 6, 2014

It’s time for another Feel Good Friday: our weekly column where we profile a company that not only makes awesome products, but also does awesome things for the world. This week: Cotopaxi — a freshly-launched company that designs and produces a unique line of sharp-looking outdoor gear.

There are dozens of companies out there that do humanitarian stuff and contriubute to charities, but only a handful put that kind of social entrepreneurship at the top of their priority list. Cotopaxi is one of those companies.

Launched just a few short weeks ago by CEO Davis Smith (who, oddly enough, is a former classmate of one of the guys who founded Warby Parker), the company has one of the most socially-conscious business models we’ve ever seen. For each item they sell, a large portion of the profit goes directly towards educating a child in impoverished region of the world, or providing access to clean drinking water.

The company doesn’t have a particularly robust product lineup at this point, but what they do have is pretty sweet. Browse through their backpack line, and you’ll notice a very clear distinction between their lifestyle designs and their more technical products. The Cusco and Kilimanjaro packs, for example, are made from simple nylon-canvas fabric and feature leather lash points that have become fairly ubiquitous in today’s walking-around packs. For each one of these packs Cotopaxi sells, they’ll provide a child in Cusco, Peru with a week of tutoring.

If you opt for one of the company’s more technical packs, such as the 16- or 26-liter Inca, you’ll provide a week of education to a child in Bolivia. If those aren’t large enough for you, and you ned something better suited for a multi-day excursion, check out the 65-liter Nepal pack, the sale of which (you guessed it) helps provide a week of schooling to a child in Nepal.

In addition to packs, Cotopaxi also sells water bottles and t-shirts, each of which provides a person with six months of clean drinking water. Literally everything you can buy from these guys goes toward some sort of humanitarian cause — you can’t go wrong!

Editors' Recommendations

Topics

Drew is our resident tech nerd. He’s spent most of his life trying to be James Bond, so naturally he’s developed an…

Fashion & Style

The 100% Biodegradable Vollebak T-Shirt Is Made From Plants and Algae

vollebak plant and algae t shirt

In a variety of industries, companies like Vollebak are using science and technology to build a fruitful future for our world. The tech-based apparel manufacturer has taken a tip from Robert Frost by heading down the road less traveled with the innovative Vollebak plant and algae T-shirt.

Vollebak’s goal has been, and always will be, to create a new standard of intelligent outdoor clothing and gear. Founded in 2015, the London-based innovators crafted the world’s first graphene jacket. Described as “the perfect atomic lattice,” graphene is the lightest, strongest, and most conductive material ever made, and it’s the only material to win a Nobel Prize. Vollebak has released a collection of fireproof "100 Year" clothing designed to outlive you, as well as a heap of other advanced clothing and gear for the everyday adventurer.

Fashion & Style

9 Socially Conscious Sweaters for Cozying Up in Comfort This 2022

Socially Conscious Sweaters

There’s nothing that can harsh the beginning of 2022 like the realities of our modern era. It just doesn’t feel right to be all snuggled up when people and places all over the world are suffering. Fortunately, slow fashion has an answer. Next time you’re shopping for a soft, snuggly pullover or cardigan, pick from one of the growing number of socially conscious apparel brands that are using commerce to do good in the world.

From restoring waterways to paying laborers a living wage, from repurposing waste material to contributing to marginalized communities, these fashion companies are leading the charge to make sure that one guy’s warm day doesn’t come at the cost of another guy’s well-being. And did we mention that the sweaters they make are the highest quality you’ll find anywhere? Whether cotton, cashmere, wool, or alpaca is your pleasure, these socially conscious, sustainable sweaters don’t ask you to compromise quality for the sake of your principles.

Culture

How to Support the Teachers in Your Life

how to support the teachers in life talking students

For most folks, the beginning of fall conjures up images of bright foliage, plump apples, and pumpkin spiced everything, but for me, the season always makes me think of school. Maybe it’s because I loved being a student or because my mom is a teacher, but the crisp cool autumnal air always brings me back to the days of lockers, backpacks, and study hall (yes, I was a teacher’s pet — sue me!)

All that being said, I thought it might be important for those without teacher moms to write an article about how to support the teachers in your life as they embark on the new school year. This list is by no means exhaustive, but it does offer a few tips and tricks for showing up for your pals who are out there doing one of the most rewarding — and difficult — jobs around.
Adjust