When his girls were little, founder Jonathan Goudeau found himself looking for products that did not exist.

He wanted a discreet kid-accessory kit—something he could fit in his pocket—that could carry the essentials for everyday life with older kids, something that wasn't a fanny pack or a bag.

He wanted a way to organize a big bag for a day out with his girls; he was looking for an insert with pockets for small things and a place for computers or coloring books, something that was sleek and easy to carry. 

He wanted products that could transform, that worked for beer bottles or baby bottles, for diapers or books.

He wanted a company to realize that his dad-life was more important to him than his work-life.

For years, Jonathan drew sketches on napkins and scraps of papers. Over the last 10 years, he kept an eye on the parenting trends. More products for men hit the market, but there were still three big gaps he saw:

1. Quality. When Jonathan invests in a bag, he wants something that will last for years—he’d rather pay top dollar for a good product than buy a new bag every few months. After doing extensive market research, it turns out he’s not alone—in fact, that’s how most men shop. They value quality over quantity and they’re looking for something to invest in that they can keep for a while. When Jonathan first started dreaming, he wanted products that would last long enough that he could pass them down to his kids some day. Something that would always be there, like Jonathan is for his girls.
2. Designs for the dad as a whole person. So many of the products scream “I’M A DAD” in a way that felt off-putting. Why can’t you be a dad and be cool about it? Why can’t there be bags that have space for a laptop and a baby bottle? Why can't companies ditch the flowers or the kitsch and just make products regular men would buy? 
3. Products for older kids. Jonathan didn’t stop being a dad once the kids turned two, but all of the product designers seemed to think so. For example, when he goes out with his three girls, he rarely leaves the house without band-aids (which make everything from scraped knees to hurt feelings feel better), hair bands (for last minute ponytails), or a notebook (because you never know when they’re going to say something you need to record for posterity). He found it helpful to have tweezers and a pocket knife, plus a few other things. He needed a small, stylish, older-kid savvy solution. 

Over time, Jonathan's ideas got more and more detailed. Finally, a friend of a friend connected him with Corie Humble, the former Senior Leather Designer at Fossil, who designs products for Anthropologie and Citizenry, among other places. Corie helped turn Jonathan's sketches into reality. 

Because this company is new, Jonathan wanted to work with a production facility with a strong reputation in the market and a transparent supply chain. Otter Pass bags and accessories are made by the same manufacturer that produces leather goods for Madewell, J. Crew, and other companies. These are products that dads can feel good about owning—10% of every purchase will ALWAYS go toward supporting refugees in Austin. 

And he knows these products really work because real dads have been using them for awhile. Jonathan beta-tested everything with dads in his life, incorporating their feedback, and adjusting the designs. Otter Pass is proud to offer our first line of products that can really make a difference for dads in every part of their day, in every stage of their kids' lives.

Your time is precious and so are your kids—they should get the best parts of your day. Let Otter Pass help you stay organized so your time with your kids stays all about them.