Montbell

Montbell is a Japanese outdoor clothing and equipment company founded in 1975 by mountaineer Isamu Tatsuno. It is known for lightweight technical gear guided by the principles of light and fast and function is beauty. It also runs its own stores and philanthropic outdoor programmes.

What is Montbell?

Montbell is a Japanese maker of mountaineering and outdoor clothing and equipment. Isamu Tatsuno, born in Osaka in 1947, founded Montbell Co., Ltd. in 1975 at the age of 28, after a career as a climber. He is also the chief executive of the wider Montbell Group.

History

Montbell says the origins date back to 1969, and that Tatsuno started the company with help from friends Fumiaki Masaki and Sachiko Masuo. Its first product was a synthetic-fill sleeping bag designed to stay warm when wet. Tatsuno is described as having climbed the North Face of the Eiger and the Matterhorn.

Products and positioning

The company says its design is guided by two ideas, light and fast and function is beauty. The range spans:

• Outerwear, rainwear, down and insulated clothing, fleece and base layers
• Bags and backpacks
• Tents, sleeping bags, camping and cooking gear
• Footwear and accessories

Business model and distribution

Montbell sells through its own stores and online. It operates international stores, including one in Grindelwald, Switzerland, and a store in Keswick in the UK.

Why it matters

Montbell combines a founder-led technical outdoor business with philanthropy, as it says it works to protect nature and provide outdoor education. It is one of Japan's best-known outdoor labels.

Frequently asked questions

Who founded Montbell?

Montbell was founded in 1975 by Isamu Tatsuno, a Japanese mountaineer born in Osaka in 1947. He is also the chief executive of the Montbell Group.

Where is Montbell from?

Montbell is a Japanese brand. Its founder is from Osaka, and the company sells through its own stores in Japan and a number of overseas locations.

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