Staying true to form with well tailored collaboration, the latest MLS side to make their way into lifestyle places in Vancouver Whitecaps as they teamed up with bag manufacturer Parkland.
A Herschel owned company with an environmentally savvy approach, Parkland is owned by Herschel, so their expertise is second to none. What's more, every bag is made 100 percent from recycled water bottles. Sound timing, with Major League Soccer recently announcing the expansion of their Sustainability Platform and league-wide commitment to creating a cleaner, healthier environment. Speaking on the collection, Vancouver Whitecaps FC defender Aaron Maund gave us his thoughts.
What do you like about the bags?
“From a design perspective, I love the pattern and the contrasting silver Whitecaps logo. It’s fire. From a practical perspective, it’s the perfect combination for a weekend road trip. We’re on the road so much, so having the right travel accessories becomes important. The small duffel paired with the backpack gives me just enough space to fit everything I need without feeling crammed.”
Which of the three bags is your favourite?
“I love all of them but I’m a backpack guy, so my favorite would have to be the Palo Rec Poly Backpack.”
What makes these bags different than others you have used in the past?
“I’ve never had a bag that was made out of recycled water bottles before. It’s awesome. Even though it’s a small contribution, it’s a contribution and every contribution counts. The more people that use Parkland bags, the better off the environment will be and I love being a small part of that. As an athlete, we drinks tons of water and while we generally try to use reusable water bottles, there are times when traveling and we end up using plastic water bottles. Companies like Parkland help us to offset that usage and it’s even cooler because they are based right here in Vancouver.”
What do you do in your everyday that shares Parkland’s mission using the recycled water bottles to create the exteriors of the bag?
“The two biggest things. I always try to remember my re-usable water bottle. When I don’t, I always recycle.”
Does this project inspire you?
“It’s just a good reminder that with today’s technology, even little things can make a big difference. Just twelve recycled water bottles makes the full exterior of one of these backpacks. That’s inspiring. It makes you want to remember. It helps you feel an immediate impact.”
Will you use these bags on roads trips now?
“I will absolutely be using my new Parkland bags on road trips from now on!”
The Parkland collaboration with Vancouver Whitecaps collection pieces are available now. You can see the more on the project here.
