Wang Jigang
I started learning about outdoor tents in May 1993. I had just graduated from high school that year, and at the age of 16, I joined a Korean-owned company specializing in making tents. It was an ODM-oriented production company well-known in the tent industry called QingDao Banpo.
I think many internationally renowned tent brands will have heard of this company. They moved from South Korea to China in 1991 to provide design and production for major international brands.
Working at Banpo is divided into two stages. The first stage is to learn all the processes of tent production.
When I came to the company in May 1993, the first thing I learned was the manufacturing process of tent poles. For tents, tent poles are as important as human skeletons. My job was to assemble and cut tent poles. After working in the tent pole workshop for three years, I was transferred to the sewing workshop.
I started learning about outdoor tents in May 1993. I had just graduated from high school that year, and at the age of 16, I joined a Korean-owned company specializing in making tents. It was an ODM-oriented production company well-known in the tent industry called QingDao Banpo.
I think many internationally renowned tent brands will have heard of this company. They moved from South Korea to China in 1991 to provide design and production for major international brands.
Working at Banpo is divided into two stages. The first stage is to learn all the processes of tent production.
When I came to the company in May 1993, the first thing I learned was the manufacturing process of tent poles. For tents, tent poles are as important as human skeletons. My job was to assemble and cut tent poles. After working in the tent pole workshop for three years, I was transferred to the sewing workshop.
Although I only stayed in the sewing workshop for three months before going to the cutting workshop, I understood the entire tent process, which enabled me to continue to delve into the tent design industry. My job in the cutting workshop was to be responsible for the defective items that appeared in the production tent workshop, and my job content was to complete the replacement and cutting of fabric pieces.
I worked here for more than three years. At that time, my supervisor was Mr. Cui Rongji. I worked with him for about three years. When he was about to return to Korea to live, he recommended me to the core department of the entire company: the development room. On the last day of leaving China, he deliberately stood at the door of the workshop, called me over and hugged me. Later, I came to Korea several times and wanted to visit him, but unfortunately I couldn’t find his contact information after asking many friends. This is an unforgettable regret in my heart.
Although I only stayed in the sewing workshop for three months before going to the cutting workshop, I understood the entire tent process, which enabled me to continue to delve into the tent design industry. My job in the cutting workshop was to be responsible for the defective items that appeared in the production tent workshop, and my job content was to complete the replacement and cutting of fabric pieces.
I worked here for more than three years. At that time, my supervisor was Mr. Cui Rongji. I worked with him for about three years. When he was about to return to Korea to live, he recommended me to the core department of the entire company: the development room. On the last day of leaving China, he deliberately stood at the door of the workshop, called me over and hugged me. Later, I came to Korea several times and wanted to visit him, but unfortunately I couldn’t find his contact information after asking many friends. This is an unforgettable regret in my heart.
The second stage of Banpo was the years in the development room, which can be said to have changed the trajectory of my life. First of all, I have to thank my teacher Mr. Choi Jun-seok. His meticulous professional attitude taught me how to design a beautiful tent.
When I first entered the development department, in addition to Mr. Choi Jun-seok, there was also a senior who designed tents, Director Shin Dong-il. I was very young at the time, so Mr. Choi did not teach me design at the beginning, but asked me to clean the sanitation for three months. Occasionally, he asked me to stand by and watch them design.
The second stage of Banpo was the years in the development room, which can be said to have changed the trajectory of my life. First of all, I have to thank my teacher Mr. Choi Jun-seok. His meticulous professional attitude taught me how to design a beautiful tent.
When I first entered the development department, in addition to Mr. Choi Jun-seok, there was also a senior who designed tents, Director Shin Dong-il. I was very young at the time, so Mr. Choi did not teach me design at the beginning, but asked me to clean the sanitation for three months. Occasionally, he asked me to stand by and watch them design.
After three months, Mr. Choi asked me if I liked this job. I said I wanted to try it, and I felt that designing tents looked very simple. So Mr. Choi said, "You can try making a tent yourself."
I began to review what I had seen in the past few months. One day, I worked until ten o'clock in the evening and rushed out the sample with great enthusiasm... But after a few days, after the sewing master finished sewing my sample, I found it was a mess. The tent was like a person without bones, wrinkled. I realized that what I saw and understood was only the most basic part of the tent. It was from that time that Mr. Choi began to slowly instill some theoretical basis for tent design in me.
After three months, Mr. Choi asked me if I liked this job. I said I wanted to try it, and I felt that designing tents looked very simple. So Mr. Choi said, "You can try making a tent yourself."
I began to review what I had seen in the past few months. One day, I worked until ten o'clock in the evening and rushed out the sample with great enthusiasm... But after a few days, after the sewing master finished sewing my sample, I found it was a mess. The tent was like a person without bones, wrinkled. I realized that what I saw and understood was only the most basic part of the tent. It was from that time that Mr. Choi began to slowly instill some theoretical basis for tent design in me.
I started working in the development room in 2000, where I met Davis, the founder of German Vaude, and their team Matillas and Pete (Vaude product manager), Director Luo, the founder of DAC, Andy and his wife, the founders of Swiss brand Exped, Alex, the designer of The North Face, and Mr. Bente, the founder of Tentipi, etc.
Whenever I recall the past, Davis lay on the carpet to measure the distance between the outer tent and the inner tent, and the president of Ogawa would wipe the floor of the workshop with his sleeves. These details are imprinted in my mind and set an example for me. Designing tents is a great cause, and you must devote yourself wholeheartedly.
I started working in the development room in 2000, where I met Davis, the founder of German Vaude, and their team Matillas and Pete (Vaude product manager), Director Luo, the founder of DAC, Andy and his wife, the founders of Swiss brand Exped, Alex, the designer of The North Face, and Mr. Bente, the founder of Tentipi, etc.
Whenever I recall the past, Davis lay on the carpet to measure the distance between the outer tent and the inner tent, and the president of Ogawa would wipe the floor of the workshop with his sleeves. These details are imprinted in my mind and set an example for me. Designing tents is a great cause, and you must devote yourself wholeheartedly.
I started working in the development room in 2000, where I met Davis, the founder of German Vaude, and their team Matillas and Pete (Vaude product manager), Director Luo, the founder of DAC, Andy and his wife, the founders of Swiss brand Exped, Alex, the designer of The North Face, and Mr. Bente, the founder of Tentipi, etc.
Whenever I recall the past, Davis lay on the carpet to measure the distance between the outer tent and the inner tent, and the president of Ogawa would wipe the floor of the workshop with his sleeves. These details are imprinted in my mind and set an example for me. Designing tents is a great cause, and you must devote yourself wholeheartedly.
I started working in the development room in 2000, where I met Davis, the founder of German Vaude, and their team Matillas and Pete (Vaude product manager), Director Luo, the founder of DAC, Andy and his wife, the founders of Swiss brand Exped, Alex, the designer of The North Face, and Mr. Bente, the founder of Tentipi, etc.
Whenever I recall the past, Davis lay on the carpet to measure the distance between the outer tent and the inner tent, and the president of Ogawa would wipe the floor of the workshop with his sleeves. These details are imprinted in my mind and set an example for me. Designing tents is a great cause, and you must devote yourself wholeheartedly.
At the same time, I learned about their understanding and design concepts of tents, outdoor, and brands through contact with them. Most of them are both designers and avid outdoor enthusiasts. They have benefited me a lot. I still clearly remember that the designers of the Scottish brand Vango shared with me their scenes of camping in Northern Europe, which made me very yearning.
At the same time, I learned about their understanding and design concepts of tents, outdoor, and brands through contact with them. Most of them are both designers and avid outdoor enthusiasts. They have benefited me a lot. I still clearly remember that the designers of the Scottish brand Vango shared with me their scenes of camping in Northern Europe, which made me very yearning.
Banpo visited DAC and took a photo with DAC management
Banpo visited DAC and took a photo with DAC management
It was also in 2000 that I started my first camping trip, using a Eureka single-person tent. Although that camping trip was not perfect, it left a deep impression on me. It was the first time I saw the sunrise and sunset on the ridge, which also made me like the quiet camping life.
It was also in 2000 that I started my first camping trip, using a Eureka single-person tent. Although that camping trip was not perfect, it left a deep impression on me. It was the first time I saw the sunrise and sunset on the ridge, which also made me like the quiet camping life.
My years working in Banpo Development Studio.
The representative brands I have participated in are: VAUDE, Exped Tentipi, light wave, OGAWA, snowpeak, The North Face, Black diamond, Eureka！ , Kolon Sport, Vango and Lightwave... It has been too long and many brands have closed down.
Salamand
Himalaya 47 (More than 20 years ago, photography technology was far less popular than it is now, so only some photos could be found.)
After working in the development department for about 6 years, I began to take over the management of the entire design and development department, and began to independently do research and development and design for some brands.
We have provided tent services for more than 70 brands or companies around the world.After working in this company for 17 years, I gradually found that I was repeating the same things. As a designer, I also participated in the creation of many world-famous tents, but I found that no one could know my existence through these tents, and sometimes people would comment that there were no high-quality tent brands in China. I gradually got a little tired of that feeling at that time... I wanted to create my own brand!
After working in the development department for about 6 years, I began to take over the management of the entire design and development department, and began to independently do research and development and design for some brands.
We have provided tent services for more than 70 brands or companies around the world.After working in this company for 17 years, I gradually found that I was repeating the same things. As a designer, I also participated in the creation of many world-famous tents, but I found that no one could know my existence through these tents, and sometimes people would comment that there were no high-quality tent brands in China. I gradually got a little tired of that feeling at that time... I wanted to create my own brand!
One day in 2010, Andy, the founder of Exped, came to Qingdao. He wanted to design a tent that could be supported by a pole from the top, but my teacher Mr. Cui said that this support point could not be realized. But I thought that designing an accessory could solve this problem, and Andy hoped that I could help him realize it.
I heard that he was going to visit some sleeping bag and air cushion factories in southern China, which would take some time, so I asked him to return to Qingdao in a month. A month later, Andy and his wife returned to Qingdao and saw the new tent I designed for him. He was very excited and hugged me. He said, "So beautiful!" This is a great invention. He even joked: "Let's use your name for this tent. Can we call it Jigang?"
After they left Qingdao, I couldn't calm down for a long time. In December 2010, I resigned from the company where I had worked for 17 years. In March 2011, I founded the brand TFStents in a small warehouse in Chenjia Village, Qingdao.
One day in 2010, Andy, the founder of Exped, came to Qingdao. He wanted to design a tent that could be supported by a pole from the top, but my teacher Mr. Cui said that this support point could not be realized. But I thought that designing an accessory could solve this problem, and Andy hoped that I could help him realize it.
I heard that he was going to visit some sleeping bag and air cushion factories in southern China, which would take some time, so I asked him to return to Qingdao in a month. A month later, Andy and his wife returned to Qingdao and saw the new tent I designed for him. He was very excited and hugged me. He said, "So beautiful!" This is a great invention. He even joked: "Let's use your name for this tent. Can we call it Jigang?"
After they left Qingdao, I couldn't calm down for a long time. In December 2010, I resigned from the company where I had worked for 17 years. In March 2011, I founded the brand TFStents in a small warehouse in Chenjia Village, Qingdao.