IVAR is a brand of

backpacks A backpack, also called knapsack, schoolbag, rucksack, pack, booksack, bookbag, haversack, packsack, or backsack, is in its simplest frameless form, a fabric sack carried on one's back and secured with two straps that go over the shoulders; b ...

known for a

patented A patent is a type of intellectual property that gives its owner the legal right to exclude others from making, using, or selling an invention for a limited period of time in exchange for publishing an enabling disclosure of the invention."A ...

ergonomic Ergonomics, also known as human factors or human factors engineering (HFE), is the application of psychological and physiological principles to the engineering and design of products, processes, and systems. Primary goals of human factors engi ...

and organizational file-like design called the IVAR-LIFT Design. Ivarson launched IVAR in July 2006 from

Marin County, California Marin County ( ) is a County (United States), county located in the northwestern part of the San Francisco Bay Area of the U.S. state of California. As of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, the population was 262,231. Its county seat a ...

Company background

In 1998 Ian Ivarson conceived and designed an internal shelf system for backpacks with an aim to create better organization and

weight distribution Weight distribution is the apportioning of weight within a vehicle, especially cars, airplanes, and trains. Typically, it is written in the form ''x''/''y'', where ''x'' is the percentage of weight in the front, and ''y'' is the percentage in t ...

ergonomics Ergonomics, also known as human factors or human factors engineering (HFE), is the application of Psychology, psychological and Physiology, physiological principles to the engineering and design of products, processes, and systems. Primary goa ...

. At the time, Ivarson was a high school student at Marin Catholic in

Kentfield, California Kentfield (formerly Ross Landing, Tamalpais, and Kent) is a Unincorporated area#United States, unincorporated community in Marin County, California, United States, just north of San Francisco. Kentfield is located southwest of downtown San Rafae ...

. Early prototypes were developed with a sewer in

Berkeley, California Berkeley ( ) is a city on the eastern shore of San Francisco Bay in northern Alameda County, California, United States. It is named after the 18th-century Anglo-Irish bishop and philosopher George Berkeley. It borders the cities of Oakland, Cali ...

, and eventually progressed to direct relationships with unionized factories in

Asia Asia ( , ) is the largest continent in the world by both land area and population. It covers an area of more than 44 million square kilometres, about 30% of Earth's total land area and 8% of Earth's total surface area. The continent, which ...

. During early development, Ivarson also filed for

patents A patent is a type of intellectual property that gives its owner the legal right to exclude others from making, using, or selling an invention for a limited period of time in exchange for publishing an sufficiency of disclosure, enabling discl ...

. Until the actual launch of IVAR, development of the IVAR backpack was slow as Ivarson was a college student and student-athlete during most of that time. Following graduation from the

University of Denver The University of Denver (DU) is a private research university in Denver, Colorado, United States. Founded in 1864, it has an enrollment of approximately 5,700 undergraduate students and 7,200 graduate students. It is classified among "R1: D ...

, Ivarson launched IVAR in July 2006 with one single daypack model from an office and warehouse on Bank Street in

San Anselmo, California San Anselmo () is an incorporated town in Marin County, California, United States. San Anselmo is located west of San Rafael, at an elevation of . It is located about north of San Francisco. The town is bordered by San Rafael to the east, F ...

. Over the years, IVAR's retail distribution reached a height of over 300 retail doors. Today, the brand is sold primarily online and in an array of brick-and-mortar retailers in the sporting goods, outdoor, luggage, and bookstore categories.

References

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External links

IVAR: Official Website“San Rafael man touts design of more efficient backpack,” Marin Independent Journal“Leaders of the packs: Help kids choose wisley,” The Denver PostIVAR Facebook Page Resource
Companies based in Marin County, California Luggage brands Manufacturing companies based in California American brands