ABOUT AVALON7

Our mission is to inspire and support riders, artists and musicians to collectively progress and create positive change.

We make rad breathable mesh bandanas called bandarils, and are based in Jackson Hole, Wyoming.

We host an online progression community called the AVALON7 COLLECTIVE.

We also make shred movies and an online series called The Kingdom.

FUTUREPOSITIV.

The idea of Futurepositiv is at the root of all we do. It is the philosophy of positive progression. Progression of ourselves, of our skills, of the world around us. It is a manifestation of a postive future in the present.

The AVALON7 INSPIRACON

The AVALON7 INSPIRACON is a relic of the future. It is meant to inspire you to become your highest self. On the most basic level, the INSPIRACON is three A, V, and 7s (AV7) joined together and spun around a single axis. Viewed in its two dimensional form, the INSPIRACON resembles a snowflake, symbolic of the sport in which it was born. Not coincidentally, the snowflake is symbolic of the unique nature of AVALON7 and the Collective of riders and artists that it represents. Remove one of the AV7 symbols and the INSPIRACON takes the shape of wings, as well as a shield to protect the warrior who wears it into battle. Taken as a three dimensional object, the INSPIRACON reveals itself as a cube or a pyramid, with the AV7 on each side. The six pointed hexagonal shape becomes seven pointed as the viewer elevates their perception. AVALON7. We are Futurepositiv.

History

Pro Rider Rob Kingwill started AVALON7 by making hand-cut and block printed mesh bandanas for campers at the Camp of Champions in the summer of 2005. He made over 120 by hand in the backyard of the coaches' house, and AVALON7 was born.

What does the name AVALON7 mean?

In Celtic mythology, Avalon is a paradise that exists in the realm of faery, parallel to our reality. Avalon is a land of heroes and kings, of faeries and elemental power. King Arthur was laid to rest there. It is a majestic kingdom, shrouded in cloud and myst. It is a place of heightened reality, experienced by the lucky few.

AVALON7 is inspired by that elevated place. The intention of this project is to create a nexus of mountain cultures by linking the AV7 Mountain Collectives through this site. Each mountain town is its own island of culture and style, and the AVALON7 COLLECTIVE seeks to bring them together so that we can share and learn from each other.

 "I live in the kingdom of Jackson Hole, where on certain days in the winter the whole valley is covered in a layer of clouds caused by a temperature inversion. On those days it is cold and dark below the clouds, a truly oppressive reality."

"The riders are the lucky ones, able to lift themselves up, elevate their perception, so to speak, by riding the chairlift up the mountain and through the clouds. When you finally burst through the clouds into the sun, it feels like you are entering another world, like stepping through a gateway into Avalon- a world filled with bright sun, laughing friends and deep pow.  It doesn't get much better than that! " -RK

Kinger Speaks:

"I started AVALON7 because I wanted to create a simple and unique company, that I could run by myself, as an outlet for my art and ideas."

"As I travelled around the world snowboarding, I was always out looking for unique bandanas at truck stops and head shops. I was sick of the same old paisley style, but I couldn't find many other options. So I decided to create my own.

My goal was to improve on the standard cotton bandana. When cotton gets wet it freezes up and becomes useless. As a result I developed a technical, breathable bandana made out of microfiber mesh. They work well in all conditions- great on a powder day, cruising the park, or hiking the pipe in the summer sun.

I like to call the mesh bandanas "bandarils"- based on the old word for the flag flown on a knight's lance, which is a "bandaroll", and the scientific word "aril", which is a brightly colored seed covering.

We make extra big cotton bandanas as well, and their massive 27x27 inch size makes them super functional.

AVALON7 has grown into much more than a bandana company. It is more like a positive movement. The concept of FUTUREPOSITIV is at the root of everything we do. My intention is to create an inspired, collaborative community around the brand that helps everyone to reach their full potential.

It is important to me to create something that is relevant and useful, but that also is unique and meaningful. There is so much positive energy in snowboarding, and I want to harness and promote that. This project has just begun, but I want AVALON7 to be about my passion for riding, individual expression, and art, and eventually be a way to give back to the up and coming kids. Thanks for checking us out!" -Rob Kingwill

Organic

The company is growing organically, bit by bit. Now in year five, we are working towards creating more limited edition clothing and hats, each custom designed and unique, as well as building and growing the AV7 COLLECTIVE website.

"AVALON7 is entirely funded by the limited sales we have, and any money I make at snowboard contests. There is no outside funding, no trust fund, just me, my friends, and our skills making it happen. I wouldn't want it any other way."- Rob Kingwill, Founder AVALON7

We have officially joined One Percent for the Planet/ One Percent for the Tetons, as a way to help make AVALON7 a low impact, sustainable business. We give one percent of our total sales to help clean up the environment.

We are continuing our journey toward sustainability with the development of our FUTUREPOSITIV line of recycled and organic cotton hats and shirts.

"It is important to me to create something that is relevant and useful, but that also is unique and meaningful. There is so much positive energy in snowboarding, and I want to harness and promote that. This project has just begun, but I want AVALON7 to be about my passion for riding, individual expression, and art, and eventually be a way to give back to the up and coming kids. Thanks for checking us out!" -Rob Kingwill

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The AVALON7 Design Collective:

AVALON7 has always been about art since the days when we weremaking each bandaril by hand in the backyard at camp.

The bandarils are designed to be a venue for unique and inspiring designs- a place where our Level7 artists and riders can express their individuality.

We have collaborated with tons of amazing artists so far, and we have barely scratched the surface of the talent out there. .

Level7 artists include: Ruckus, Lynsey Dyer, Sage Cattabriga-Alosa, Mark Dunstan/AnomalyFarm, Ryan Hayworth, Anika Youcha, DJ RichieBeats,Keil Fletcher, Kelly Halpin and of course, yours truly, Rob Kingwill.

AVALON7 in the Olympics?

If you saw the Olympic Halfpipe events last year, you probably noticed the red white and blue bandanas the US athletes were wearing. You can't have missed Shaun covered up in the Stars and Stripes. What you probably didn't know is that those bandanas were AVALON7. AV7 wasn't a uniform sponsor like Burton or Nike, and sure as hell didn't have the cash to come anywhere close to the Olympics. Now the trick is, how did a tiny company with nothing but heart get itself into the big game on the best athletes in the world?

Kinger competed in the Grand Prix Olympic qualifiers, and thought it would be cool to make a bunch of AV7 flag bandanas to pass out to the crowds at the events. It was sweet to see all the fans waving their flag bandanas as the riders flew over their heads. He also passed the Patriot bandanas out to any of the riders who wanted one as a keepsake of the contest.

THE PATRIOT BANDANA

At the last Grand Prix in Jersey, Rob walked up and saw Shaun pulling a Patiot bandana out of his backpack. "I've been looking for one of these. I want to wear it at the Olympics." he said. Yeah right! They would never let that happen. You are only allowed to wear the team uniform, Rob thought. You know what happened next. Not only Shaun, but all of the Halfpipe girls and most of the Boardercrossers rocked the Patriot at the biggest event in the world. Pretty cool.

"AVALON7 is an anomaly. Before it even truly came into existence it managed to get itself on the world stage, which was really what I hoped would happen in the first place.

Seeing Shaun and Hannah win gold medals with my Patriot bandanas around their necks was one of the coolest moments of my life. I am so grateful to all of my friends that went to the Olympics and rocked my gear- Shaun, Hannah, Gretchen, Elena, Holland, Ears, Lyns, Rosie, thank you thank you thank you. AV7 is honored. I started this company as a learning experience. It has forced me to learn how to do web design, learn Illustrator, do orders, budgets, and be far more organized than I have been in the past. Maybe someday it will even make me some money, but the real purpose is for me to have an outlet for all the ideas running though my head. I have been a pro-snowboarder for 10 years. That is a long time- and I love it as much today as I did back then, probably more. Snowboarding is my life. More than just a sport, it is the people that I get to ride with that make it so special to me. So many of my best friends are the people I have met on the road, in some foreign country, at some contest in the middle of nowhere, or in the backcountry hiking for fresh turns. Snowboarders are a different breed. As am I. AVALON7 is the same. A breed apart."

Enjoy! Rob Kingwill

 

AVALON7... Making something out of nothing since 2005.