Every year, Earth Day gives us a moment to reflect on how we interact with the world around us. From the gear we craft to the way we operate our workshop, sustainability is a factor in every decision we make. We're not perfect, and we won't claim to be, but we're committed to doing better where we can, when we can.

Our solar story began some years ago when we installed 94 panels across the roof of our building in Duluth, Minnesota. Those panels covered over half of our yearly energy consumption—even through the long, cold northern winters.

Then more recently, we added 42 more panels to the system. These ones are mounted vertically on the back of our century-old brick building, designed to shed snow more easily and generate more power during the dark months around the winter solstice. With the expanded array, we now expect to cover over three-quarters of our annual energy needs with solar power.

On a sunny summer day, those panels produce up to 260 kWh of clean electricity—just enough to meet our average daily energy use of 250 kWh.

Our sustainability efforts don’t stop with solar. Inside the workshop, LED lighting helps us reduce energy usage even further. These efficient bulbs last up to 25 years longer and use about 75% less energy than standard lighting.

Our production floor is home to two massive cutting tables that help us make the most of every material we use. These computer-guided machines optimize patterns to minimize waste, including a leather-cutting station with a camera-guided layout system. Less waste means less material used, and that means a more efficient, more sustainable process from start to finish.

From top to bottom, our historic building in Duluth reflects our values. Floor-to-ceiling windows on the retail floor reduce our reliance on artificial lighting. Down in the basement, those high-efficiency cutting tables hum away on solar power. It all adds up.

Sustainability is a goal, a mindset, and a work in progress. And it’s something we’re proud to keep building on.