Going from Product to Promo

For nearly two decades, my focus with Krieg Climbing was all about making. I spent years behind a sewing machine personally sewing over 20,000-30,000 chalk bags. We were a small shop with big output, driven by fulfilling orders, fixing industrial machines, and staying just ahead of demand. It was rewarding, hands-on work that taught me everything about textiles, production, and grit—but it left little room for brand-building, storytelling, or strategic growth. Looking back, I see now that I never took the time to build Krieg into a brand. We made great gear, but we never created the narrative or community around it. With KLAVA, the goal is different.

Feb: Re-Launch Klava: Got Back on the Design Tools

I started by reconnecting with Photoshop and Illustrator, cranking out digital

samples and building a library of Klava templates. I gathered logos from friends’

companies and began printing prototypes sending out real samples in the mail

and following up with a phone calls and emails to reconnect and kick off

conversations. The calls were awesome and a good time to reflect on decades of

relationships and connections.

I starting small one email, one phone call, one story at a time.

It’s a simpler product with a wider reach—something that can serve trail runners, dog lovers, fly fishers, race directors, and even a few fun causes. Manufacturing can be high-end and domestic—think every eco credential imaginable, down to vegan ink—or scaled overseas for larger runs and tighter price points. That flexibility opens up possibilities I never had before.

What excites me now is the balance: less industrial grind, more creativity and connection. KLAVA is still rooted in great design and real function, but this time, it's about people and purpose, not just production. A hybrid manufacturing model. A scalable story. And hopefully, a brand that grows because others help tell it.