Our Story
Founded in 2006 by Ian Ivarson, IVAR designs and manufactures high-end backpacks made with a patented tiered divider system for superior comfort, balance, and organization. As a family-owned company, we’re dedicated to quality craftsmanship, thoughtful innovation, and making a positive impact. To date, we’ve donated more than $150,000 worth of backpacks to in-need youths throughout Africa and South America.
Once sold in over 330 retail stores across the U.S. and abroad, today, IVAR mainly ships directly to customers. Though the retail world has evolved, our mission and values remain unchanged—to create backpacks that work better and last longer.
With gratitude,
The Ivarson Family
Where innovation meets craft.
From the beginning, our mission has been simple—to design backpacks that elevate everyday carry through thoughtful innovation and enduring craftsmanship. We focus on intuitive organization, balanced comfort, and high-quality materials built to last. Every IVAR pack is made for modern urban life and designed to stand the test of time.
Committed to giving back since day one.
Giving back is woven into the foundation of IVAR. Generosity has always been a part of who we are as a family. Since our founding, we have donated more than $150,000 worth of backpacks to in-need youths, primarily across Africa and South America, as well as here in the Bay Area. Supporting kids in need is central to our mission and remains an enduring part of the IVAR story.
Grateful for the journey that has shaped us.
Since 2006, IVAR has remained a family-owned business rooted in thoughtful design, lasting quality, and a genuine commitment to giving back. We build backpacks with intention, focused on comfort and organizational design, durable materials, and everyday function. We’ve stayed true to the values that shaped us from the beginning—craftsmanship and generosity. We are deeply grateful for the community that has supported us and for every customer who has been part of the IVAR story.