Based out of Bend, Oregon, Puffin Drinkwear officially launched in early 2019 with a vision of creating “drinkwear” that brings people together around the campfire. Puffin Drinkwear makes bold, nostalgic apparel for your beverage to wear and keeps it chilled while looking absolutely fabulous. From bottled water to ready-to-drink cocktails, Puffin Drinkwear refreshes the typical can coolers through playful panache to be your next co-pilot.
The story of Puffin Drinkwear unfolded as you would imagine; it started with a beer at a friend’s house around a campfire in the woods of central Oregon. Bend is a small city on the Deschutes River overflowing with natural beauty, from lakes and the peaks of the Cascade Mountains, to ski resorts and lush hiking trails. The city is known as an outdoor lover’s paradise, with plenty of breweries to boot.
Tyrone Hazen, co-founder of Puffin, found himself around the firepit with a few friends when the idea struck to create drinkwear for his beer made from an old sleeping bag. His love for the outdoors, along with a creative streak sparked a passion project that would evolve into a crowd favorite in just a few years time.
From this moment, Hazen and his team continued to evolve their unique idea into a variety of silhouettes. Jackets, adventure vests, parkas, and flannels soon became a reality, with a handful of household names reaching out for custom designs (we’re looking at you, Xbox).
Weaving together personality and functional design into various styles, Puffin’s apparel products tell a unique story. Adventure vests for your next fishing trip or safari. If you like skiing, how about an 80’s extreme skiing inspired suit? With the winter season in full-swing, Puffin Drinkwear is the accessory you never knew you needed. There’s even a puffer jacket for your favorite IPA.
The festive layers that Puffin Drinkwear adds to any occasion is something to marvel. They have caught the attention of brands like Xbox to release ‘The Hoodie’ and ‘The Pahka’ which translates well to gamers who bundle up when they’re deep in the game space. As a gamer, it’s essential to keep your hands warm, so why not keep your drink cozy while you play?
The identity and the culture that surround Puffin Drinkwear reflects the vagabond sense of adventure so many of us feel, be it local or cross-country. In typical Oregon fashion, Puffin Drinkwear is also a Pledge 1% Member. Pledge 1% is a global movement of businesses that have committed to pledging 1% of either a combination of profit, product, time or equity towards philanthropy.
This holiday season, Puffin Drinkwear is working closely with One Warm Coat, and for every Puffin Jacket that will find a home in someone’s stocking, a jacket is donated to someone in need. Each jacket can make a difference, even the one keeping your beer cold. Naturally, community leadership is nothing new to Puffin Drinkwear as they partner with other nonprofits like Big City Mountaineers and the Boulder County Wildfire Fund to give these organizations additional voices. Additionally, in the spirit of community, Puffin Drinkwear aims to work closely with local breweries in and around the city of Bend, cementing their place around the fire as Oregon’s most unique, best-dressed beverage.
Keep warm this holiday season, but let the beer run cold and the adventures ever-revolve.
