Company Overview:

Industry Portage Co., founded by New York City construction executive RJ Diaz in 2010, is an independent product design and development label based in New Jersey that produces original and well crafted lifestyle, travel, and work bag designs. As a bootstrapped enterprise, Industry Portage has slowly gained brand recognition in the sale of its high-quality small batch production items, one-off pieces that feature up-cycled and re-purposed suede welder’s jackets, and custom, industry-specific bags for clients.  All products are designed with a focus on quality, utility, and durability.

Established as a direct to consumer e-commerce retailer since October 22, 2011, Industry Portage creations are owned by clients in over 25 US states as well as in Belgium, Germany, Spain, Austria, Britain, Switzerland, and Hong Kong.

Founder’s Biography:

With an education in architecture and passion for industrial, product, and interior design, founder and design director RJ Díaz has developed a line of bags inspired by his experience in the high-end renovation industry spanning nearly 20 years. His passion for the outdoors, travel, and the arts also figure as major influences to his designs. In 2010, RJ decided to create his own work bag after so many  attempts to find one that fit his needs. The Industry Portage Co. was born. He became obsessed with building a brand around a line of work, travel and lifestyle carry goods which led him to exhaustively research pattern makers and manufacturers throughout the world that would be willing to work with him on a small production run of his own designs. Despite his lack of knowledge and experience in fashion design or textile science, RJ immersed himself in the study of materials and methods to produce finely crafted high quality carry goods at a reasonable price.

“As a functional and utilitarian item, exceptional bags can be analogous to great architecture: it must provide a pragmatic solution and do it in a beautiful way.”

With an aesthetic that tends toward the minimalist, his design influences include the Bauhaus school as well as the mid-century modern masters of design.  His branding influences include American heritage labels such as Levi’s, Harley-Davidson, Filson, and Carhartt. His fashion influences include established houses such as John Varvatos and J. Lindberg.  RJ also sees Industry Portage Co. as a way to give back to the local and global communities.  RJ volunteers as a little league soccer coach and as a member of his hometown’s Green Team, which promotes environmental protection and sustainability issues. He has also coordinated successful fundraising campaigns for Charity: Water and has donated proceeds to Vittana and Room To Read.

“I want to create a legacy for my children and teach them to give as much as we get out of this opportunity we have as Americans to create something based on our own vision.”

Company Press/Media:

RJ and his young brand have been featured in local, national, and global press including Monocle Radio’s “The Entrepreneurs”,The Entrepreneur Podcast Network, Thrillist, and Patch.

Industry Portage goods have received highly favorable reviews online by such publications as Thrillist, The Manual, Mantality Magazine, Top Kit  and Inside Hook as well as its own customers.

Contact Information:

RJ Díaz

Founder / Design Director

Industry Portage Co.

rjdiaz@industryportage.com

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