Himali: Born In Nepal, Based In Boulder
An International Friendship Breeds Sustainable, Charitable Climbing Gear
In 2014, native Coloradan Dave Schaeffer crossed paths with Nepali Tendi Sherpa at the base of the highest peak in South America. Instantaneously, an international friendship began and the premium mountaineering apparel brand HIMALI followed.
Schaeffer discovered rock-climbing inhigh school as a place to channel his excess energy. At 17 years old, he started his own climbing hold company, following in his father’s entrepreneurial footsteps. Schaeffer and Sherpa meeting is an event Schaeffer describes as, “The tipping point for both of us.”
Photos courtesy of HIMALI
Certified IMGA (International Federation of Mountain Guides Association) and 13-time Everest summiteer, Sherpa comes from a family of monks in a small Nepali village called Saisima. He grew up watching his Nepali community make a living in the mountains. Without receiving much credit, Sherpa cleaned trash, set power lines and put in days of hard work to better his hometown. Now, Sherpa is better able to support his family and community through his climbing career.
“Tendi has always had a huge heart, an incredible work ethic and a strong desire to help lift his community up in any way he could,” Schaeffer describes. “This combination of generosity and mountain experience deeply aligned with what I wanted this brand to be about; it was a very natural partnership. I couldn’t ask for a better co-founder.”
Although mountaineering is the core of HIMALI, you don’t have to be a mountaineer to get HIMALI’s core message — pushing your limits and fueling your passion to explore wild space, according to Schaeffer.
“We have CEOs who get up before work to mountain bike, NASA scientists, college students, entrepreneurs, weekend warriors and vagabonds who all connect to the brand,” Schaeffer adds. “We welcome everyone.”
Sherpa and Schaeffer built HIMALI on the pillars of performance, community and sustainability. Every piece of gear, brand partnership and media clip reflects one of HIMALI’s three core values. The HIMALI logo is the letter “H” and encapsulates the number 14. This specific logo reflects the Himalayas — home to the 14 tallest mountain peaks on the planet — which serves as a reminder to create quality gear capable of withstanding the world’s highest and harshest demands.
PERFORMANCE
HIMALI believes our world’s wild spaces shouldn’t be taken for granted. This pillar seeks to inspire people to reach bigger than assumed possible — to encourage people to achieve peak performance in anything meaningful to them, such as career, meditation, mountaineering, you name it.
“Our beginnings and the core of our brand is mountaineering, but the message is greater than that,” Schaeffer explains. “We create gear that is built to support your biggest pursuits and to give you confidence as you chase your potential.”
Currently, HIMALI is sold in over 40 countries across the world. Because mountaineering is a niche sport, big peaks attract people on a global scale. Additionally, Sherpa’s guiding company regularly leads people on international expeditions. HIMALI’s pro and ambassador programs also make up an integral part of perfecting gear performance and building the HIMALI community. The pro program is about getting design feedback from athletes of varying sports, after they’ve thoroughly worn the freely given product. If the product surpasses athlete expectations, it’s ready for consumers. The pro and ambassador programs enable HIMALI to keep improving every step of the way.
COMMUNITY
Support, mentorship and guidance are important aspects of the climbing community. HIMALI uplifts global communities by partnering with varying social programs, as well as donating portions of gear to people who need and use it. One prominent partnership is with the Tendi Sherpa Foundation (TFS), which works to provide rural areas of Nepal with opportunities for education and to create safer working environments — to support humanitarian efforts and give people the foundation to thrive.
Communication is another critical facet of HIMALI’s emphasis on community. This explains HIMALI’s phenomenal overall media presence, evident on their Instagram and blog.
“We want people to really be able to understand what we are about and to know we put care, thought and attention into every part of the process,” Schaeffer shares, “from initial concept to execution.”
SUSTAINABILITY
HIMALI uses high-performing, recycled materials and fluorocarbon-free waterproofing. They source from Responsible Down Standards (RDS) suppliers and partner with bluesign® system. Additionally, HIMALI seriously considers material selection and chooses their manufacturers thoughtfully. Manufacturers for HIMALI hold themselves to the highest environmental and ethical standards in the clothing industry.
Originally published in the Summer 2022 issue of Spoke+Blossom.