View source for Adrian Solgaard

{{Infobox person
| name = Adrian Solgaard
| image =
| alt =
| caption =
| birth_place =
| nationality = Norwegian, Canadian
| occupation = Inventor; entrepreneur
| known_for = Solgaard (Solgaard Design, Inc.)
| website = [https://adriansolgaard.com/ adriansolgaard.com]

}}

'''Adrian Solgaard''' is a Norwegian–Canadian inventor and entrepreneur best known as the founder and CEO of the sustainable travel goods brand Solgaard.<ref name="ShopifyCase">{{cite web |title=Solgaard grew creator-generated revenue 287% MoM |url=https://www.shopify.com/case-studies/solgaard |website=Shopify |date=2023 |access-date=2025-10-28}}</ref><ref name="DLD">{{cite web |title=Adrian Solgaard |url=https://dld-conference.com/speaker/adrian-solgaard |website=DLD Conference |access-date=2025-10-28}}</ref> 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.<ref name="MoMA">{{cite web |title=MoMA Solgaard Carry-On Closet Suitcase 4.0 |url=https://store.moma.org/products/moma-solgaard-carry-on-closet-suitcase-4-0-black |website=MoMA Design Store |access-date=2025-10-28}}</ref><ref name="ShopifyCase" />

== Early life ==
Solgaard was born to Norwegian parents. He grew up in Norway and also near Vancouver, Canada, later settling in New York City.<ref>{{cite web |title=Adrian Solgaard |url=https://solgaard.co/blogs/our-team/adrian-solgaard |website=Solgaard |date=2017-01-01 |access-date=2025-10-28}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Adrian Solgaard: Inventor, Entrepreneur, Global Citizen (podcast episode) |url=https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/adrian-solgaard-inventor-entrepreneur-global-citizen/id1190995056?i=1000424699489 |website=StartEdUp Podcast via Apple Podcasts |date=November 28, 2018 |access-date=2025-10-25}}</ref>

== 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.<ref>{{cite web |title=The InterLock™ – The Lock that Hides Inside of Your Bike |url=https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/solgaarddesign/the-interlocktm-the-lock-that-hides-inside-of-your |website=Kickstarter |date=2016-02-29 |access-date=2025-10-28}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Haworth |first=J. |title=InterLock, the seatpost-mounted bike lock |url=https://www.bikeradar.com/news/interlock-the-seatpost-mounted-bike-lock |work=BikeRadar |date=2013-01-23 |access-date=2025-10-28}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=InterLock succeeds in crowdfunding aim to develop security seatpost |url=https://bikebiz.com/interlock-succeeds-in-crowdfunding-aim-to-develop-security-seatpost/ |work=BikeBiz |date=2013-01-31 |access-date=2025-10-28}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=InterLock Seatpost & “Hidden” Lock Review |url=https://electricbikereport.com/interlock-seatpost-lock-review/ |website=Electric Bike Report |date=2014-11-19 |access-date=2025-10-28}}</ref>

=== 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.<ref name="ShopifyCase" /><ref name="Story" /> Solgaard’s product portfolio features luggage with integrated shelving (Carry-On Closet® and Check-In Closet®), backpacks, soft goods, watches, solar power bank chargers and travel accessories.<ref>{{cite web |title=Luggage |url=https://solgaard.co/collections/luggage |website=Solgaard |access-date=2025-10-28}}</ref>

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.<ref name="Story">{{cite web |title=Our Story |url=https://solgaard.co/pages/our-story |website=Solgaard |access-date=2025-10-28}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Lifepack Hustle: Solar + Anti-theft backpack & shoulder bag |url=https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/solgaarddesign/lifepack-hustle-backpack-and-solar-shoulder-bag/description |website=Kickstarter |date=2017-06-20 |access-date=2025-10-28}}</ref>

Solgaard became widely known for the Carry-On Closet® suitcase, which features and an integrated collapsible shelving system for organized packing.<ref name="MoMA" /> The product has been sold at MoMA Design Stores and was also recognized on ''TIME'' Magazine’s 2018 Best Inventions list.<ref name="MoMA" /><ref>{{cite web |title=Carry-On Closet (product page) |url=https://solgaard.co/products/carry-on-closet |website=Solgaard |access-date=2025-10-28}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=The Carry-on Closet Is One of TIME's Best Inventions of 2018 |url=https://time.com/collection/best-inventions-2018/5455672/the-carry-on-closet/ |website=TIME |date=November 15, 2018 |access-date=2025-10-25}}</ref>

=== Sustainability ===
Many Solgaard products feature the brand’s proprietary Shore-Tex® fabric, made using recycled, ocean- and river-bound plastic.<ref name="ShopifyCase" /> 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.<ref>{{cite web |title=Solgaard Launches Mono-Material, Fully Circular Backpack, a Red Dot 2023 Product Design Award Winner |url=https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/solgaard-launches-mono-material-fully-circular-backpack-a-red-dot-2023-product-design-award-winner-301809258.html |publisher=PR Newswire |date=2023-04-27 |access-date=2025-10-28}}</ref>

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.<ref>{{cite web |title=Solgaard Achieves ‘Plastic Negative’ Sustainability Goal |url=https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/solgaard-achieves-plastic-negative-sustainability-goal-301307564.html |website=PR Newswire |date=June 8, 2021 |access-date=2025-10-25}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Solgaard Cleans Up Three Million Pounds of Ocean-Bound Plastic |url=https://pershingsquarephilanthropies.org/news/solgaard-cleans-up-three-million-pounds-of-ocean-bound-plastic-in-cooperation-with-the-solgaard-nyx-foundation-and-impact-partners |website=Pershing Square Foundation (via PR Newswire) |date=April 22, 2025 |access-date=2025-10-25}}</ref>

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.

== Solgaard Design ==
{{Infobox company
| name = Solgaard Design, Inc.
| logo =
| type = Private
| industry = Travel goods
| founded = 2016
| founder = [[Adrian Solgaard]]
| hq_location_city= New York City
| hq_location_country = United States
| products = Luggage, backpacks, travel accessories
| brands = Carry-On Closet, Lifepack, Shore-Tex
| website = {{URL|https://solgaard.co/}}
}}

'''[[Solgaard Design]], Inc.''' (stylized as '''Solgaard''') is an American travel goods company headquartered in New York City, United States. The company was founded by Adrian Solgaard in 2016. Solgaard Design's Carry-On Closet® suitcase, which integrates a collapsible shelf organizer, was named to ''Time'' magazine’s list of Best Inventions of 2018.<ref>{{cite web |title=The Carry-on Closet Is One of TIME's Best Inventions of 2018 |url=https://time.com/collection/best-inventions-2018/5455672/the-carry-on-closet/ |website=TIME |date=November 2018 |access-date=2025-11-05}}</ref> The company emphasizes recycled and “ocean-bound” plastics in its materials, including a proprietary fabric called Shore-Tex.<ref>{{cite web |title=Shore-Tex™ |url=https://eu-solgaard.co/pages/shore-tex |website=Solgaard |access-date=2025-11-05}}</ref>

=== History ===
Solgaard was founded by Norwegian-Canadian designer [[Adrian Solgaard]]. Solgaard started a crowdfunding campaign for ''Lifepack'', a solar-powered, anti-theft backpack launched on Kickstarter in 2016, which raised US$613,917 from 3,705 backers.<ref>{{cite web |title=Lifepack: Solar Powered & Anti-Theft Backpack |url=https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/solgaarddesign/lifepack-solar-powered-and-anti-theft-backpack |website=Kickstarter |date=2016 |access-date=2025-11-05}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Lifepack: Solar Powered & Anti-Theft Backpack – FAQs |url=https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/solgaarddesign/lifepack-solar-powered-and-anti-theft-backpack/faqs |website=Kickstarter |date=2024-02-29 |access-date=2025-11-05}}</ref>

The company later introduced the ''Carry-On Closet'' suitcase with a built-in, removable shelving system, which became Solgaard’s best-known product after being included on ''TIME'' magazine’s Best Inventions list in 2018.<ref>{{cite web |title=The Carry-on Closet Is One of TIME's Best Inventions of 2018 |url=https://time.com/collection/best-inventions-2018/5455672/the-carry-on-closet/ |website=TIME |date=November 2018 |access-date=2025-11-05}}</ref>

As of 2025, Solgaard is headquartered in New York, United States.<ref>{{cite web |title=Solgaard Design Inc. |url=https://www.linkedin.com/company/solgaard-co |website=LinkedIn |access-date=2025-11-05}}</ref>

=== Products ===
==== Carry-On Closet ====
Solgaard’s flagship suitcase, the ''Carry-On Closet'', features a patented five-shelf organizer that compresses for packing and can hang in a closet or on a hook when traveling.<ref>{{cite web |title=Carry-On Closet – Suitcase with Shelves |url=https://solgaard.co/products/carry-on-closet |website=Solgaard |access-date=2025-11-05}}</ref> The organizer and interior lining are produced with recycled plastic materials (Shore-Tex), and the case includes a TSA-approved lock and polycarbonate shell.<ref>{{cite web |title=Carry-On Closet – Suitcase with Shelves |url=https://solgaard.co/products/carry-on-closet |website=Solgaard |access-date=2025-11-05}}</ref> The product has been widely reviewed in consumer and travel publications.<ref>{{cite web |title=Review: The Internet-Famous Solgaard Carry-On Closet |url=https://www.insidehook.com/travel/review-solgaard-carry-closet |website=InsideHook |date=2025-01-08 |access-date=2025-11-05}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Solgaard Carry-On Closet Review |url=https://www.packhacker.com/travel-gear/solgaard/carry-on-closet/ |website=Pack Hacker |date=2024-02-15 |access-date=2025-11-05}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=I Tried the Solgaard Carry-On Closet and Here’s My Honest Review |url=https://www.apartmenttherapy.com/solgaard-carry-on-closet-review-37014092 |website=Apartment Therapy |date=2025-01-04 |access-date=2025-11-05}}</ref>

==== Lifepack and other bags ====
The original ''Lifepack'' backpack line integrated a removable solar power bank/speaker, cable lock, and hidden pockets aimed at mobile workers and travelers.<ref>{{cite web |title=Solgaard Lifepack Review: A Solar-Powered and Anti-Theft Backpack for Digital Nomads |url=https://www.smartertravel.com/solgaard-lifepack-review/ |website=SmarterTravel |date=2017-08-31 |access-date=2025-11-05}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Lifepack Backpack (product page) |url=https://solgaard.co/products/lifepack-backpack |website=Solgaard |access-date=2025-11-05}}</ref> Solgaard has since expanded into additional backpacks, weekenders, and travel accessories.<ref>{{cite web |title=Solgaard – Sustainable Travel Gear |url=https://solgaard.co/ |website=Solgaard |access-date=2025-11-05}}</ref>

=== Materials and sustainability ===
Solgaard reports using recycled materials in multiple components through its Shore-Tex® (textile) and Shore-Plast™ (hard plastic) material streams.<ref>{{cite web |title=Impact: Materials |url=https://solgaard.co/pages/impact |website=Solgaard |access-date=2025-11-05}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Shore-Tex™ |url=https://eu-solgaard.co/pages/shore-tex |website=Solgaard (EU site) |access-date=2025-11-05}}</ref> In February 2023, the company announced it had become a Certified B Corporation, and at the same time publicized an increase in plastic collection per purchase.<ref>{{cite web |title=Solgaard Announces B Corp Certification, Increases Ocean Plastic Collection to 6lbs per Purchase |url=https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/solgaard-announces-b-corp-certification-increases-ocean-plastic-collection-to-6lbs-per-purchase-301747209.html |website=PR Newswire |date=2023-02-15 |access-date=2025-11-05}}</ref> In April 2025, Solgaard announced it had cleared an estimated three million pounds of ocean-bound plastic from coastal communities and waterways to date, through Solgaard’s programs in cooperation with its partners and a related foundation.<ref>{{cite web |title=Solgaard Cleans Up Three Million Pounds of Ocean-Bound Plastic in Cooperation with the Solgaard NYX Foundation and Impact Partners |url=https://pershingsquarephilanthropies.org/news/solgaard-cleans-up-three-million-pounds-of-ocean-bound-plastic-in-cooperation-with-the-solgaard-nyx-foundation-and-impact-partners |website=Pershing Square Foundation (press release) |date=2025-04-22 |access-date=2025-11-05}}</ref>

=== Recognition ===
Time magazine included the ''Carry-On Closet'' on its “Best Inventions” list in 2018.<ref>{{cite web |title=The Carry-on Closet Is One of TIME's Best Inventions of 2018 |url=https://time.com/collection/best-inventions-2018/5455672/the-carry-on-closet/ |website=TIME |date=November 2018 |access-date=2025-11-05}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Review: The Internet-Famous Solgaard Carry-On Closet |url=https://www.insidehook.com/travel/review-solgaard-carry-closet |website=InsideHook |date=2025-01-08 |access-date=2025-11-05}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Solgaard Carry-On Closet Review |url=https://www.packhacker.com/travel-gear/solgaard/carry-on-closet/ |website=Pack Hacker |date=2024-02-15 |access-date=2025-11-05}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=I Tried the Solgaard Carry-On Closet and Here’s My Honest Review |url=https://www.apartmenttherapy.com/solgaard-carry-on-closet-review-37014092 |website=Apartment Therapy |date=2025-01-04 |access-date=2025-11-05}}</ref>

''Fast Company'' named Solgaard's Shore-Tex sustainable fabric and product collection a finalist in its "World Changing Ideas" awards in 2020.<ref>{{cite web |last=Clendaniel |first=Morgan |title=World Changing Ideas Awards 2020: Consumer Products Finalists and Honorable Mentions |website=Fast Company |date=2020-04-28 |url=https://www.fastcompany.com/90492180/world-changing-ideas-awards-2020-consumer-products-finalists-and-honorable-mentions |access-date=2025-11-07}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Pronk |first=Desmond |title=World Changing Ideas Awards 2020: Consumer Products Finalists and Honorable Mentions |website=Solgaard Design Inc. |date=2020-04-29 |url=https://www.linkedin.com/posts/solgaard-co_world-changing-ideas-awards-2020-consumer-activity-6661255805632823296-cu4Q?trk=public_profile_like_view |access-date=2025-11-07}}</ref>

The ''Solgaard Compass Backpack'' (previously referred to as the ''Circular Backpack'') received a Red Dot: Product Design award in 2023 for its sustainable, mono-material construction.<ref>{{cite web |last=Dot |first=Red |title=Red Dot Design Award: Solgaard Circular Backpack |website=Red Dot Design Award |date=2025-11-07 |url=https://www.red-dot.org/project/solgaard-circular-backpack-63010 |access-date=2025-11-07}}</ref>

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
* [https://adriansolgaard.com/ Adrian Solgaard] (official website)
* [https://solgaard.co/ Solgaard] (official website)

{{DEFAULTSORT:Solgaard, Adrian}}
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Businesspeople]]
[[Category:Entrepreneur]]