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Not to be confused with the US-based manufacturer of electric lighting fixtures..
Rab
Company typeSubsidiary
Industry Mountaineering clothing, Climbing clothing, Retail
Founded1981; 43 years ago (1981)
FounderRab Carrington, Rhys Kelly
Headquarters
Somercotes, Derbyshire
,
UK
Productsinsulated jackets, waterproof jackets, baselayers, sleeping bags, tents
ParentEquip Outdoor Technologies
Website rab.equipment

Rab is a British manufacturer of clothing and equipment for climbing and mountaineering. The firm was founded in 1981 by Scottish climber Rab Carrington.

History

Rab Carrington and founding

Rab's clothing store on Platte Street, Denver, Colorado

Rab Carrington (born 1947 in Glasgow) devoted himself to rock climbing and mountaineering in the late 1960s and 1970s, taking on expeditions in the Alps and Himalayas. [1] [2] In 1973, he took part in an expedition to Patagonia, Argentina, but when his group arrived in Buenos Aires they found that their climbing equipment had not been shipped from Liverpool due to a dock strike. [1] Unable to start the expedition without his equipment, Carrington instead stayed in Argentina for six months, and learned how to make sleeping bags himself. [1] On his return, Carrington moved to Sheffield due to its proximity to the Peak District, and in 1980, Carrington began hand-stitching and selling his own sleeping bags from the attic of his house. [3]

Demand for his sleeping bags grew, and the following year Carrington founded Rab and moved production to a factory in Sheffield. [3] Drawing on his climbing experience, Carrington's clothes focused on lightweight, durable and high-quality products. [4]

Recent history

Rab Carrington retired in 2007. The firm, along with competitor Lowe Alpine, were later both purchased by Equip Outdoor Technologies. [5]

Clothing

Rab's down jackets, sleeping bags and expedition wear are designed with cold weather in mind, and employ European goose and duck down that is certified to the Responsible Down Standard. [6] [7] A fluorocarbon-free water repellence treatment is also applied to the down used in clothing and sleeping bags in order to reduce water saturation. [8] [9] Like nearly all outerwear manufacturers, Rab also uses synthetic insulation, both alone and in conjunction with down. [1]

References

  1. ^ a b c d That's Me: Rab Carrington The British Mountaineering Council. 4 March 2006. Retrieved 18 November 2012.
  2. ^ Rab Carrington Bio Mountain Heritage Trust. 20 November 2007. Retrieved 10 May 2018.
  3. ^ a b The History of Rab Rab. Retrieved 10 May 2018.
  4. ^ Rab Clothing - Background Climbers-Shop. Retrieved 10 May 2018.
  5. ^ McHale, John (30 May 2014). "Lowe Alpine clothing production to end again as Rab range extended". grough.co.uk.
  6. ^ Ethical Down in the Outdoor Industry Ultralight Outdoor Gear. Retrieved 14 May 2018.
  7. ^ Find Responsible Down Standard Outdoor Companies Responsible Down Standard. Retrieved 14 May 2018.
  8. ^ Rab and Nikwax: in Partnership Nikwax.co.uk. Retrieved 18 May 2018.
  9. ^ Guide to Water Resistant Down WebTogs. Retrieved 14 May 2018.

External links

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