Lowepro

Lowepro is an international company that produces carrying solutions for imaging equipment and consumer electronics. Its products are for professional photographers and photojournalists but, they also produce cases for consumer photographer and laptop computer users.

The brand began in 1967 when climber, Greg Lowe, invented the world’s first internal frame backpack in his Colorado work shed. In 1972, Lowe introduced the first foam padded, soft-sided camera bag. Lowepro / Lowe Alpine have also been responsible for the introduction of plastic buckles, compression straps, and stabilizers which are now standard in most modern back packs.

Lowepro is the largest producer of camera support packs with distribution in 107 countries. Lowepro’s worldwide headquarters are located in Sebastopol, CA, with offices in Australia, Canada, Germany and the United Kingdom.

History

1967 - Lowepro founder, Greg Lowe, creates the world’s first internal-frame backpack in his garage. 1972 - Lowepro introduces the first soft-sided, foam-padded camera bag developed by Greg Lowe.

1977 - Greg pioneers the use of plastic buckles on backpacks and camera bags.

1992 - Lowepro originates the revolutionary All Weather Cover (patented), a built-in raincoat for torrential downpours, snow, sand, dust and hot sun.

1993 - Lowepro develops the first OverLap Zipper, an innovation now standard for camera bags.

1993 - Lowepro wins the IDEA prestigious silver Industrial Design Excellence Award for the design of the Orion AW Backpack.

1994 - Lowepro’s Off Road is the first camera bag with the SlipLock System, a modular system that changed the way many photographers carry equipment.

1994 - Lowepro wins the IFAI International Achievement Award

1996 - Lowepro spearheads a 5-year international campaign to save the Spirit Bear.

1998 - Lowepro develops s modular carrying system ever, the Street & Field System.

1998 - Lowepro pioneers rolling cases with a prop-up stand to make gear access easier.

1998 - Lowepro creates the Film Drop AW (patented), with an aperture-like opening that stows exposed film safely.

1999 - Lowepro produces the first camera/notebook backpack for photojournalists; Lowepro produces the first of many new camera bags designed specifically for digital cameras.

2001 - Lowepro redesigns the rolling camera backpack, placing the backpack harness on one side and the handle and wheels on the other.

2002 - Lowepro introduces DryZone 200, the first camera backpack to take camera gear into the water

2005 - Lowepro introduces the first two compartment camera bag that combines waterproof camera protection with personal storage and a hydration system

2007 – Lowepro celebrates its 40th Anniversary with a philanthropic partnership with Polar Bears International (PBI) and develops the world’s first “green” camera backpack, Primus AW, made of 51% recycled materials

2008 - Lowepro's parent company, DayMen Photo Marketing, acquires Acme Made, a designer carrying case manufacturer

Environmental Responsibility

Lowepro supports several organizations, including Amazon Watch, The Conservation Alliance, Native Planet, Raincoast Conservation Society, and Polar Bears International (PBI).

In 1996, Lowepro helped lead the campaign to save a potentially endangered species of bear called the Spirit Bear. This genetically-unique subspecies of bear can be found throughout the valleys of the central coast of British Columbia. Their environment was swiftly becoming eradicated by clear cut logging. Lowepro drove awareness and in April 2001, the Canadian government established a 500,000 acre protection area and banned logging in significant valleys of the Great Bear Rainforest.

To commemorate Lowepro’s 40th anniversary, it established a partnership with Polar Bears International (PBI), a non-profit organization dedicated to protecting the polar bear through education about global warming and its devastating effects on the species.

40th Anniversary and PBI

In 2007 Lowepro embarked on a variety of initiatives to raise awareness about the plight of the polar bear. In cooperation with "Outdoor Photographer" magazine, Lowepro held the “Vanishing Treasures” photo contest. Furthermore, the company developed Primus AW, a photo backpack made of primarily recycled materials and has dedicated a 10% of the proceeds derived from this bag to PBI. Lowepro's donation to PBI from 2007 sales of Primus AW was over $43,000 (US).

Lowepro Photographers

Lowepro products are used by photographers throughout world, no matter where their photographic adventure takes them. Lowepro’s sponsored photographers include Harry Benson.

External links

* [http://www.lowepro.com Lowepro Corporate Website]
* [http://www.lowepro.com/photography-showcase List of Lowepro's featured online photographers]
* [http://www.polarbearsinternational.org Polar Bears International Website]
* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/loweproflickr Lowepro on flickr]
* [http://www.lowealpine.com Lowe Alpine Website]