Adrian Solgaard
Adrian Solgaard is a Norwegian–Canadian inventor and entrepreneur best known as the founder and CEO of the sustainable travel goods brand Solgaard.[1][2] Solgaard designs suitcases and other travel gear that combine utility with sustainability. These include the Carry-On Closet® suitcase, which features an integrated compression shelf system, and the company’s Shore-Tex® material made from 100% recycled materials.[3][1]
| Adrian Solgaard | |
| Born | {{{birth_date}}} |
|---|---|
| Occupation | Inventor; entrepreneur |
| Contact | https://adriansolgaard.com/ |
Early life
Solgaard was born to Norwegian parents. He grew up in Norway and also near Vancouver, Canada, later settling in New York City.[4][5]
Career
InterLock seatpost lock
Before establishing Solgaard, he invented the InterLock, a bicycle lock that hides inside a bicycle’s seatpost and deploys via retractable cables. The product was launched through Kickstarter campaigns and covered by cycling and technology media in 2013–2015.[6][7][8][9]
Solgaard Design
Solgaard Design, Inc. (commonly called Solgaard) is a travel-goods and accessories company founded by Solgaard in 2016. The company focuses on sustainable luggage and accessories featuring functional design and recycled materials.[1][10] Solgaard’s product portfolio fetaures luggage with integrated shelving (Carry-On Closet® and Check-In Closet®), backpacks, soft goods, watches, solar power bank chargers and travel accessories.[11]
In 2016, after discussing features for a “perfect” backpack when a friend’s bag was stolen, Solgaard launched the Lifepack, a solar-powered anti-theft backpack, via crowdfunding. During its crowdfunding campaign, Lifepack received more than US$1 million in pledges on Kickstarter. The product line expanded the following year with the Hustle backpack.[10][12]
Solgaard became widely known for the Carry-On Closet® suitcase, which features and an integrated collapsible shelving system for organized packing.[3] The product has been sold at MoMA Design Stores and was also recognized on TIME Magazine’s 2018 Best Inventions list.[3][13][14]
Sustainability
Many Solgaard products feature the brand’s proprietary Shore-Tex® fabric, made using recycled, ocean- and river-bound plastic.[1] In 2023, Solgaard launched its first mono-material, fully recyclable backpack, the “Circular Backpack” (now named the “Compass Backpack”), which received a Red Dot: Product Design Award.[15]
In cooperation with its network of plastic collection impact partners and the Solgaard Nyx-Foundation, the Solgaard brand cleans up six pounds of plastic from coastal communities around the world with every product sold.[16][17]
As of Earth Day 2025 (April 5, 2025), Solgaard announced it had cleaned up 30 million pounds of plastic up in cooperation with its network of impact partners and the Solgaard Nyx-Foundation.
References
- ^ a b c d Solgaard grew creator-generated revenue 287% MoM. Shopify. https://www.shopify.com/case-studies/solgaard. 2023. Accessed 2025-10-28.
- ^ Adrian Solgaard. DLD Conference. https://dld-conference.com/speaker/adrian-solgaard. Accessed 2025-10-28.
- ^ a b c MoMA Solgaard Carry-On Closet Suitcase 4.0. MoMA Design Store. https://store.moma.org/products/moma-solgaard-carry-on-closet-suitcase-4-0-black. Accessed 2025-10-28.
- ^ Adrian Solgaard. Solgaard. https://solgaard.co/blogs/our-team/adrian-solgaard. 2017-01-01. Accessed 2025-10-28.
- ^ Adrian Solgaard: Inventor, Entrepreneur, Global Citizen (podcast episode). StartEdUp Podcast via Apple Podcasts. https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/adrian-solgaard-inventor-entrepreneur-global-citizen/id1190995056?i=1000424699489. November 28, 2018. Accessed 2025-10-25.
- ^ The InterLock™ – The Lock that Hides Inside of Your Bike. Kickstarter. https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/solgaarddesign/the-interlocktm-the-lock-that-hides-inside-of-your. 2016-02-29. Accessed 2025-10-28.
- ^ InterLock, the seatpost-mounted bike lock. BikeRadar. https://www.bikeradar.com/news/interlock-the-seatpost-mounted-bike-lock. 2013-01-23. Accessed 2025-10-28.
- ^ InterLock succeeds in crowdfunding aim to develop security seatpost. BikeBiz. https://bikebiz.com/interlock-succeeds-in-crowdfunding-aim-to-develop-security-seatpost/. 2013-01-31. Accessed 2025-10-28.
- ^ InterLock Seatpost & “Hidden” Lock Review. Electric Bike Report. https://electricbikereport.com/interlock-seatpost-lock-review/. 2014-11-19. Accessed 2025-10-28.
- ^ a b Our Story. Solgaard. https://solgaard.co/pages/our-story. Accessed 2025-10-28.
- ^ Luggage. Solgaard. https://solgaard.co/collections/luggage. Accessed 2025-10-28.
- ^ Lifepack Hustle: Solar + Anti-theft backpack & shoulder bag. Kickstarter. https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/solgaarddesign/lifepack-hustle-backpack-and-solar-shoulder-bag/description. 2017-06-20. Accessed 2025-10-28.
- ^ Carry-On Closet (product page). Solgaard. https://solgaard.co/products/carry-on-closet. Accessed 2025-10-28.
- ^ The Carry-on Closet Is One of TIME's Best Inventions of 2018. TIME. https://time.com/collection/best-inventions-2018/5455672/the-carry-on-closet/. November 15, 2018. Accessed 2025-10-25.
- ^ Solgaard Launches Mono-Material, Fully Circular Backpack, a Red Dot 2023 Product Design Award Winner. PR Newswire. https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/solgaard-launches-mono-material-fully-circular-backpack-a-red-dot-2023-product-design-award-winner-301809258.html. 2023-04-27. Accessed 2025-10-28.
- ^ Solgaard Achieves ‘Plastic Negative’ Sustainability Goal. PR Newswire. https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/solgaard-achieves-plastic-negative-sustainability-goal-301307564.html. June 8, 2021. Accessed 2025-10-25.
- ^ Solgaard Cleans Up Three Million Pounds of Ocean-Bound Plastic. Pershing Square Foundation (via PR Newswire). https://pershingsquarephilanthropies.org/news/solgaard-cleans-up-three-million-pounds-of-ocean-bound-plastic-in-cooperation-with-the-solgaard-nyx-foundation-and-impact-partners. April 22, 2025. Accessed 2025-10-25.
External links
- Adrian Solgaard (official website)
- Solgaard (official website)