The Beginnings of PAJAK
The PAJAK company was founded in 1983 by the active athlete couple Ewa and Andrzej Pająk. Its conception was a difficult one given the turbulent and economically challenging 1980’s era of communism in Poland. The nascent company had to deal with scarcity of materials, political unrest and virtually non-existent methods of promotion sans word of mouth.
Through great craftsmanship and ingenuity in acquiring the necessary components for the then-underdeveloped sports equipment sector, the company rose to become the powerhouse it is today.
PAJAK’s founding products focused on the needs of tourists and revolved around down jackets, which helped promote outdoor activities in the budding Polish hiking and mountaineering scene. In 1992 PAJAK released its revolutionary 1 kilogram sleeping bag, which had become the absolute best-selling product in the history of the company.
Growth and Development
Since its challenging beginnings, PAJAK has remained true to its principles. It centered its success around constant development and innovation, mastering the use of premium quality, locally sourced Polish down. This material has been the cornerstone of the outdoor clothing store’s success. High quality down and milestones such as introducing the 1 kg sleeping bag, an ultralight solution for its time, the development of various backpack and jacket models, like the 2003’s Eskimo Jacket, as well as ongoing collaboration with various designers, sports enthusiasts, and professionals alike, paved the way to PAJAK’s success and ensured its impact on hiking gear trends.
Led by passionate athletes, the company was always embedded in the mountain sports scene, which led greatly to being able to best cater to the needs of hikers and mountaineers, though primarily focusing on casual enthusiasts.
One of PAJAK’s peak endeavors, which tightened the company’s bond with professionals, came during the cooperation with Andrzej Bargiel during his ski descent from the Tibetan Shishapangma summit. PAJAK designed an ultra-light down suit especially for this occasion. This great achievement began a long-lasting collaboration with both Andrzej and Sunt Leones. Its feedback greatly aided the Polish mountain gear producer in the development of new, innovative products.
Mission and Core Values
Founded by sports aficionados, the company is steeped in enthusiasm and authenticity. The very first products were designed with personal experience and sporting needs in mind, and this approach remains rooted in each new design.
Furthermore, empathy is not a hollow word for PAJAK. From ethical, locally sourced materials that embrace the philosophy of sustainable growth to strict adherence to European norms, the company has made sure that aside from customer satisfaction, it can also focus on protecting the environment.
PAJAK is proud to be a gold winner of the 2019 OutDoor ISPO award for its Quest 4Two down sleeping bag. The award is given in recognition of innovative products, services or strategies that work towards reducing the negative impact on the environment and supporting local communities.
Polish Goose Down – The Secret of Success
Part of the success of PAJAK’s down sleeping bags, jackets and accessories lies in the use of premium Polish goose down. The material boasts exceptional insulating properties and loftiness while retaining an unparalleled light weight. These qualities have earned it world renown.
The secret behind Polish down’s exceptional quality lies in a few key factors. The first of which is the relatively cold climate, which makes the geese produce far thicker and fluffier down than their western counterparts.
Second comes tradition. Geese have been raised in Poland for hundreds of years, and both the approach and techniques haven’t changed much since then. PAJAK’s down comes from geese raised on small local farms, where the animals are provided with carefully monitored care and good living conditions. While sounding like a platitude, it’s undeniably true that happy geese grow healthier and yield much better quality down.
PAJAK’s norms and adherence to the ethical treatment of geese and ducks raised for down have earned the company the RDS certificate, proof that PAJAK’s products are sourced from supply chains that are fully traceable and audited for animal welfare, ensuring no live-plucking or force-feeding practices are used.
Following PAJAK’s Adventure
In its 40-year-long career, PAJAK has become a leading producer and outdoor shop on the European market, leading the way with new, innovative designs, premium quality craftsmanship, and respect for planet Earth.
With its growth come new horizons to explore as the company enters the next decade of its existence with plans to expand its offer worldwide, dedicate itself to new, bold designs, and develop new ways to work towards sustainable growth, fixing the errors of large-scale businesses and their harmful impact on the environment.
We cordially invite you to follow the company’s adventure and take part in its positive impact on the world!
Thank you for reading.
