Chicago industrial designer Maria Boustead hatched the idea for our functional and versatile bags back in 2009 when she couldn’t find a bag practical enough to attach to her bike for her work commutes and stylish enough to take into her office. “Why hasn’t any company thought to do this yet?” she wondered, and then decided to solve the problem herself.
Since then, the brand has grown to be a celebration of the active urban lifestyle by offering bike, yoga and casual travel bags built for experiencing the richness of city life – and looking good while doing it.
What Inspires Us
The mural discovered on the bike ride to work
The mid-afternoon escape to our favorite yoga studio
The chance discovery of an outdoor market we never knew about
About our World Bicycle Relief Partnership
In May 2013, Po Campo partnered with World Bicycle Relief, a Chicago nonprofit that donates bicycles to rural African communities, giving them access to healthcare, education and economic opportunities.
For every 25 bags we sell through our online store, a schoolgirl in Africa will get a new bicycle. Shop now to get us one bag closer to a new bike!
Why do we want to African girls to stay in school? Because educated girls:
// Are much less likely to become child brides, making them less likely to contract HIV during child birth and be sexually assaulted.
// End up making more money, giving her independence and the to participate in the labor force to shape the growth of her community.
// Learn how to break the cycle of poverty that has crippled her region for decades.
Why do we want to give them a bicycle? Because:
// Most girls live many miles from the nearest school and, if they walk, they can’t squeeze in both school and chores in their day. But, with a bike, they can do both.
// Riding a bicycle is fun and gives one a wonderful sense of independence. We love that feeling and want to share it.
Contact information
700 N. Carpenter St., Lower Level, Chicago IL 60642
TEL: 312.834.4741 | FAX 312.243.8053 | info@pocampo.com
Wholesale Inquiries: Maria Boustead, sales@pocampo.com
Customer Service Questions: Robin Althouse, robin@pocampo.com
See info about Returns/Exchanges and Warranty below.
Press Inquiries: Chris Rodriguez, press@pocampo.com (see our press page for more info)
Shipping and Tracking Updates: shipping@pocampo.com
Frequently asked questions
Q: Where does the name “Po Campo” come from?
A: Po Campo is a minor character in Larry McMurtry’s Lonesome Dove, one of Maria’s favorite books. She was drawn to the character because of his adventurous spirit, self-reliance and confidence to do things his own way while maintaining a child-like curiosity with the wonders of the everyday. Plus, it’s fun to say!
Q: My bag got grease/dirt/mud/coffee/hot sauce/ink on it – how should I clean it?
A: No worries, we designed our bags to be able to take some abuse! Just apply a dab of dish soap onto the stain and gently rub it with a damp towel or old toothbrush. All of our fabrics are nonabsorbent so with a little diligence, it will come clean.
*Note: Some Po Campo bags produced from 2009-2011 were made of treated acrylic outdoor upholstery fabric. While also water repellent, the color can fade if scrubbed too vigorously, so please be gentle.
Q: The Po Campo bag I received isn’t what I was expecting. Can I return it?
A: Oh bummer! Yes, of course you can return it. Just send it back within a month and we will refund your money or give you a credit towards the purchase of another product. Of course, the bag must be unused and in like-new condition. Please see the official Returns/Exchanges Form for more information.
Q: My bag broke! What is your warranty policy?
A: What? Not possible. Well, while we take great care to produce quality products that stand the test of time, occasionally something will go awry. We evaluate each product failure individually but in most cases we will replace the bag or issue a credit for our online store, given that the damage is beyond normal wear and tear. Please complete our Warranty Form so that we can get a functioning Po Campo bag back in your life again.
Q: Where do you manufacture your products?
A: We produce in both Chicago and China and work with the same company in both locations. The arrangement allows us to leverage the inherent benefits of both facilities. In Chicago, we have interaction and agility because we can develop new products in a collaborative hands-on process and are able to produce a small amount relatively quickly. In China, we have technology and capacity because its highly developed infrastructure lets us develop new fabrics and hardware, and streamline production. We’re very fortunate that we have the best of both worlds – face-to-face contact with our manufacturer and the ability to produce technically superior bags at attainable prices.
Q: How do you know your Chinese manufacturer has good working conditions?
A: The factory is ISO-9001 certified, meaning that it passed a rigorous assessment of its buildings, workspaces, functions, products and services, and is also a member of SEDEX, a not-for-profit, international organization dedicated to responsible and ethical business practices in global supply chains.
Additionally, our intimate familiarity with the attention that the factory in Chicago gives to product quality and its worker conditions tells us that the 18-yr strong relationship between the two factories translates to quality and integrity maintained throughout the production process.
Q: Why don’t you use recycled fabric in your bags?
A: We agree that using recycled material is important to minimize our consumption of valuable virgin materials. We are always on the lookout for recycled fabric that can deliver the technical benefits of weather resistance and durability that we require. We haven’t found any yet (at a price that makes sense for our products, anyway) but we continue to look. Stay tuned!
Q: Do you have any vegan products?
A: The Spare Pocket, Maxwell Hip Pouch, Six Corners Wristlet and Logan Tote are all leather-free – and loving it!
Q: Which of your bags fit laptops?
A: The Loop Pannier fits a 13” laptop.
Q: Which of your bags fits an iPad?
A: The Loop Pannier and Logan Tote comfortably fit an iPad. The Armitage Satchel has been known to be able to accommodate an iPad as well.
Q: Which of your products fits a spare pair of shoes?
A: Depends how big your feet are! You should be safe with the Logan Tote, Armitage Satchel and Loop Pannier.
Q: Do your bags come with changing pads to be used as a diaper bag?
A: Yes, thanks to customer feedback, we now have matching changing pads that can be used with our larger bags (Logan Tote, Armitage Satchel and Loop Pannier).
Q: Do you do custom orders?
A: No, not at this time but please send your ideas for new Po Campo products to info@pocampo.com and we’ll see if we can work them in.