ABOUT AVALON7 AVALON7 is an action sports accessory company based in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. Our mission is to make rad stuff, inspire positive progression, and support the journey to the higher self through snowboarding, skiing, art, and music. The AVALON7 COLLECTIVE is a worldwide community of riders and artists dedicated to inspiring each other to progress to the next level. We are dedicated to activating the upward spiral of positivity and creative collaboration around the world. Join us on our Facebook page or join the AVALON7 COLLECTIVE on avalonseven.com. AVALON7 is named after a legendary city from the future hidden in the mountains, whose gates are accessible to those seeking the next level. Click here to read the legend of AVALON7. We are owned and operated by pro-snowboarder Rob Kingwill.
THE AVALON7 INSPIRACON
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. Activate the upward spiral! The Futurepositiv Project is a non-profit organization dedicated to increasing outdoor participation in youth. Check it out at www.futurepositiv.org and like our page on Facebook here. |
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THE AVALON7 ARTIST COLLECTIVE AND THE LEVEL7 SERIES AVALON7 products are designed to be a venue for unique and inspiring designs- a place where our Level7 artists and riders can express their individuality. The AVALON7 COLLECTIVE Level7 artists include: Ruckus, Lynsey Dyer, Mike Parillo, Kelly Halpin, Sage Cattabriga-Alosa, Mark Dunstan/AnomalyFarm, Ryan Hayworth, Anika Youcha, DJ RichieBeats, Anthony Harmon, Kelly D. Williams, Angel Rodrigues, Add Fuel to the Fire, and Rob Kingwill. Click here to visit the Level7 Artists page. Everything we make here at AVALON7 is limited edition. Level7 series products come with hand-numbered collectors cards, and are sometimes autographed by the artist.
AVALON7 PRODUCTS: BANDARILS, BALLERCLAVAS AND TSHIELDS BANDARIL- The world's most breathable, technical mesh bandana. BALLERCLAVA- Lightweight, nearly seamless polyester ballaclava for full head and face protection. These things are baller. TSHIELD TUBE- Lightweight breathable seamless polyester tubes. LEVEL7 HATS- Hand painted fit caps and trucker hats. We also make tshirts, hoodies, winter hats and a wide assortment of other raddness. CLICK HERE TO VISIT OUR ONLINE STORE.
HISTORY- BLOCK PRINTS TO BANDARILS 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. Here are some photos of some of the original bandarils:
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"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 named the mesh bandanas "bandarils", a combination of 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. 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 positivity, 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
THE NEXT STEP 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. Our intention is to create an inspired, collaborative community around the brand that helps everyone to reach their full potential. Activate the upward spiral! We are entirely funded by the limited sales we have, and any money Kinger makes at snowboard contests. There is no outside funding, no trust fund, just me, my friends, and our skills making it happen. We wouldn't want it any other way.
AVALON7 is a proud member of One Percent for the Planet/ One Percent for the Tetons. We are continuing our journey toward sustainability with the development of our FUTUREPOSITIV line of recycled and organic cotton hats and shirts.
WHERE DOES THE NAME AVALON7 COME FROM? AVALON7 is named after a city from the future hidden in the mountains, accessible only to those seeking the next level. Click here to read the legend of AVALON7. "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 AVALON7- a world filled with bright sun, laughing friends and deep pow. It doesn't get much better than that! " -KINGER
AVALON7 IN THE OLYMPICS If you saw the Olympic Halfpipe events in 2006, 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 bandana 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. 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."-KINGER
THE LAST WORD I started this company as a learning experience. It has forced me to learn how to do web design, learn Illustrator, process 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 17 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. AVALON7 is the same. A breed apart." Enjoy! Rob Kingwill (KINGER) |
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