IT STARTED IN THE
BACK OF A VAN

IT STARTED IN THE BACK OF A VAN

On a surf and ski trip through California, our founders were sleeping in a van, several miles up a dirt road near a secret hot spring. They awoke the next morning in subzero temperatures with a car that wouldn’t start. Far outside of cell reception, and confronted with an impossibly long walk into town, they decided to bundle up in their sleeping bags and drink whiskey while they waited for someone else to show up.

Minutes turned to hours, and in that time the conversation took an unexpected turn to the subject of bedding. Cozy and warm in their sleeping bags, the two acknowledged how much better the materials felt and performed than what was on their beds back home. A resolve was made to create a “sleeping bag blanket” and the idea for the first Rumpl product was born.

On a surf and ski trip through California, our founders were sleeping in a van, several miles up a dirt road near a secret hot spring. They awoke the next morning in subzero temperatures with a car that wouldn’t start. Far outside of cell reception, and confronted with an impossibly long walk into town, they decided to bundle up in their sleeping bags and drink whiskey while they waited for someone else to show up.

 

Minutes turned to hours, and in that time the conversation took an unexpected turn to the subject of bedding. Cozy and warm in their sleeping bags, the two acknowledged how much better the materials felt and performed than what was on their beds back home. A resolve was made to create a “sleeping bag blanket” and the idea for the first Rumpl product was born.

Wylie Robinson sewing the first Rumpl blanket

Our founder and CEO, Wylie Robinson, creating the first Rumpl

Returning from the trip and borrowing a sewing machine, the first Rumpl “Puffy” blankets were hand sewn in a cramped San Francisco apartment. After several months using the blankets, the two realized they had stumbled on to an idea much grander than just a sleeping bag blanket. The materials typically found in everyday blankets hadn’t evolved in hundreds of years—the entire category wasn’t utilizing any of the material innovation that was taking place in apparel, outdoor gear, and activewear. The Rumpl brand was born! 

Returning from the trip and borrowing a sewing machine, the first Rumpl “Puffy” blankets were hand sewn in a cramped San Francisco apartment. After several months using the blankets, the two realized they had stumbled on to an idea much grander than just a sleeping bag blanket. The materials typically found in everyday blankets hadn’t evolved in hundreds of years—the entire category wasn’t utilizing any of the material innovation that was taking place in apparel, outdoor gear, and activewear. The Rumpl brand was born!

After turning to Kickstarter, getting funded in less than 24 hours, and ultimately hitting more than 10x the original campaign goal, they realized that others wanted more from an everyday blanket. Since that initial Kickstarter success, Rumpl has grown from a single home made ‘sleeping bag blanket’ to a whole line of blankets and technical comfort products that redefine the category.

Dancing Rumpl outdoor blanket studio navy red

After turning to Kickstarter,getting funded in less than 24 hours, and ultimately hitting more than 10x the original campaign goal, they realized that others wanted more from an everyday blanket. Since that initial Kickstarter success, Rumpl has grown from a single home made ‘sleeping bag blanket’ to a whole line of blankets and technical comfort products that redefine the category.

One of our brand’s core values is to “Look To The Future Responsibly,” and consider that value in every business decision we make. In 2019, we completely redesigned our core line of blankets to use only 100% post-consumer recycled materials. We’re now recycling over 5 million discarded plastic bottles through our supply chain every year. We’re also proud to be a member of 1% For The Planet, which means we donate 1% of all revenue to environmental non-profits. And finally, we’re members of the freshman cohort of brands that are certified Climate Neutral. This means that beginning in 2020, and every year thereafter, we’ll be offsetting 100% of our company’s carbon footprint by purchasing offset credits.

One of our brand’s core values is to “Look To The Future Responsibly,” and consider that value in every business decision we make. In 2019, we completely redesigned our core line of blankets to use only 100% post-consumer recycled materials. We’re now recycling over 5 million discarded plastic bottles through our supply chain every year. We’re also proud to be a member of 1% For The Planet, which means we donate 1% of all revenue to environmental non-profits. We’re members of the freshmen cohort of brands that are certified Climate Neutral. Since 2020, each year we offset 100% of our company’s carbon footprint by purchasing offset credits. In March 2021, Rumpl officially became a certified B Corporation.

Lobby area of the rumpl office
Aerial shot of the Rumpl office parking lot
Stuff sacks on the peg wall in the Rumpl office
KP working on her computer in the Rumpl office

Now based in the perfectly cozy testing climate of Portland, OR, our team has dedicated ourselves to introducing the world to better blankets. We’re still a small team, fewer than 20 people, but we’re passionate about the products we create, the environmental and social causes we support, and the new category we’re defining. We even still get out in the van from time to time. GoRumplNZ

Now based in the perfectly cozy testing climate of Portland, OR, our team has dedicated ourselves to introducing the world to better blankets. We’re still a small team, fewer than 20 people, but we’re passionate about the products we create, the environmental and social causes we support, and the new category we’re defining. We even still get out in the van from time to time. GoRumpl.

Rumpl logo on green wall
Man hanging with his dog on a blue rumpl blanket
Woman wearing orange and blue rumpl blanket outside her cabin
Woman falling in a Rumpl blue blanket
Couple standing outside their A frame in Rumpl sherpa blankets