If you regularly ride knobby tires, you likely know the name Kitsbow. It has become synonymous with premium mountain bike clothing, and for good reason: Kitsbow’s clothes offer plenty of function, but they are often so beautiful they border on show pieces.
David Billstrom, CEO of Kitsbow, knows the brand is known for premium products. But he also wants us all to know why: Kitsbow’s clothing is made by hand, when you order it, by employees that own the company. It’s all made in the USA with a focus on function.
Kitsbow is indeed employee-owned, with each employee getting a stake in the business. It’s unique within the bicycle industry, and while Kitsbow is still in the process of learning the employee-owned business model, it’s clear that it comes with distinct advantages.
Billstrom chats with Slow Guy on the Fast Ride host Dan Cavallari about the business model as well as Kitsbow’s approach to creating its clothing — and the environmental responsibilities that come with it. Billstrom says most of Kitsbow’s environmental initiatives can be applied to all clothing businesses. It starts with better packaging, but certainly doesn’t stop there.
As consumers, it’s more important now more than ever to understand where our clothes come from, and where they’re headed. Billstrom says Kitsbow does its best to ensure your clothing doesn’t end up in landfills prematurely. And that’s exactly what happens with most of the clothing sold in the United States.
Be sure to check out this episode of the Slow Guy on the Fast Ride podcast to learn more about Kitsbow’s unique business practices and environmental initiatives. And check out all the other excellent episodes too by subscribing to the podcast.