TRENDSETTER | BROWN BUFFALO
48 • Textile Insight ~ July/August 2017 textileinsight.com
Douglas Davidson Aims to Have the Smallest Bag Company in America. By Suzanne Blecher
or the last two decades, Douglas
Davidson has worked for Burton
Snowboards and The North Face
creating backpacks, tote, bags and
travel accessories for both athletes
and everyday explorers. But his real
love is getting his hands dirty on the
factory floor. Textile Insight gets the
scoop from Davidson on product
development, his learnings and personal goals.
Brown Buffalo is an unusual name. Where did it originate?
"I'm adopted. I've never felt like I've belonged to something
and I'm much more nomadic. So, when it comes to my spiritual
animal or connection, it is with the buffalo. They kind of roam.
I've always felt that if I was going to name something, I wanted
to believe in it and have a natural connection to it."
What lessons did you take from other jobs as a new entrepreneur?
"With Burton (2002-2015 for two stints), it was how to edit
product and learn about product cycles. I eventually became
an independent contractor, but through that, I was still so
engaged with the brand. My studio was down the street and
I was in all of the weekly meetings. I was heavily involved
on the development side. Early on, I was more naïve and
arrogant. Some of the edges needed to be rounded off. Fast
forward to TNF (2010-2012), where I went in knowing how
a product was sold. I was able to start from scratch with a
team. We worked with athletes where their lives depended
on us to make the right product. A lot of it was based around
big expeditions and ascending mountains where the elements
could kill them."
F
