Chrome Industries


Chrome Industries is a global manufacturer of messenger bags, backpacks, utility cycling apparel and utility cycling footwear. After establishing a reputation in Boulder, Colorado in 1995, Chrome moved to Denver for several years before relocating in 2002 to San Francisco. In June 2017, the company moved its headquarters to Portland, Oregon. In August 2010, Chrome opened its second retail store in Manhattan, New York, and has since opened retail locations in Chicago, Portland, Seattle, Minneapolis, a second San Francisco location in the Mission District, Denver and Washington, DC. Its factory is located in Chico, California, and the company said this will remain in operation after the move of its headquarters to Portland.

Manufacturing

Chrome is best known for producing quality products designed with a set of company standards, which they outline as functionality, utility and durability.
Their bags are guaranteed for life and built with industrial materials including tarpaulin, Cordura and steel. Chrome's popular messenger bag line, Mini-Metro, Citizen and Metropolis, is chiefly recognizable by their signature seatbelt buckle release that doubles as a bottle opener. The company started building their bags in a garage with salvaged materials such as seatbelt buckles and seatbelt webbing and has maintained this aesthetic and industrial material esthetic across their entire range of product offerings.
They have since expanded to incorporate an apparel line, which includes their best selling Cobra merino wool hoodie, and a shoe line including their best selling low-profile design Kursk street shoe with built-in cycling functionalities such as reflective hits, shoelace garage, skid resistant soles and polyurethane contoured crash pad insole.
In 2014, Chrome began selling its city sneakers and messenger backpacks as one-off sales on Tilt.com.

Athletic sponsorships and company partnerships

Chrome's sponsored athletes include professional skateboarders, John Cardiel, John Igei, Massan Fluker, Damian Riehl, Alonso Tal.
Chrome partnerships have incorporated such companies and entities as Bad Religion, Krooked Skateboards, Motörhead, artist and illustrator, Pat Perry, Tim Kasher, and philanthropic organizations such as the World Food Programme and San Francisco's St. Anthony Foundation.