The Po Campo line of bags and accessories was started in 2009 by Chicagoans Maria Boustead and her then-business partner, Emily Taylor, when they couldn’t find a functional bike bag to match their stylish personalities. Industrial designers ever on the quest for the next new thing, Maria and Emily decided they’d make the bags themselves.
Since then, Emily has returned to the world of industrial design, while Maria has evolved the Po Campo line to include all aspects of an active lifestyle. Po Campo has grown to worldwide demand, and is sold nationally in the U.S. through multiple retail channels, as well as in Europe, where biking is like breathing – and Po Campo bags get back to their roots.
Our bags are named after Chicago’s various neighborhoods and their eclectic character, keeping Maria’s vision for chic versatility grounded in its Midwestern urban origin. Whether a casual cyclist, a busy mom on the go, or a savvy fashionista, Po Campo accessories provide the freedom to realize life’s adventures – and look good doing 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.