King Kong Apparel

Research science and bag design – according to Torquay local Stefan Gehrig, the two have more in common than it might first appear.

Gehrig is the founder of a local gym bag brand, King Kong Apparel, and says he learnt the tricks of the trade from his time working as a researcher.

“I was actually a research scientist at Melbourne Uni, I did biological sciences and got my PHD in Muscle Biologic back in 2012,” Gehrig said.

“There is more overlap than you would think; going from research scientist to bag designer and company owner.

“It runs across the same methodology… in how you develop a hypothesis, and how to test it, getting the results and conclusions based on that… product development.

“I was in the research space for around eight years, and I finished up in 2014 and since then have been full time in bag design.”

While working as a research designer, Gehrig said he was serious about cross fit and fitness, and noticed there weren’t many decent, locally designed gym bags that were both functional and stylish.

“I just saw a little bit of a niche, so I made a gym bag as a little bit of a side hustle for about four or five years, before it turned into my full-time gig, and I’ve sold well over 120,000 gym bags, predominantly in America but all over the world, and in Australia.”

King Kong Apparel focuses on both function and style, with a masculine edge.

“I would describe it as tough, durable and functional.

“We pride ourselves in being some of the toughest bags available, they last a long, long time compared to some of the bigger brands that use cheaper materials that don’t last quite as long, and that’s not their primary focus.

“Our primary focus is gym bags, and so we know our customer well enough to make a really durable bag.”

Gehrig said the designs first took off among cross fitters, and now are being used by gym goers in general.

“Now it’s gym goers who take their fitness seriously, 25- to 45-year-olds, with a slight preference for males because the bags are masculine, tough, durable… but really any gym goer that wants to carry their gear in an organised way.”

Based in Torquay, nowadays Gehrig works from The Workers Hut on Baines Crescent, and has spent the past 12 months designing a line of super premium leather gym bags.

The King Kong Apparel team is also expanding their market into Europe, as well as expanding their range of bag designs.

“Always expanding, more into an active lifestyle look, bags that aren’t necessarily only for the gym but they’re for having an active lifestyle, bags that fit the look that’s required for the office but also very durable, functional; all the hallmarks of our bags.”

Gehrig loves the lifestyle he can carve out in the Surf Coast, which effortlessly balances with an entrepreneurial scene that lets him build the King Kong empire.

“We are a team of three in the company, in Torquay and Melbourne. The thing I enjoy here on the coast is the lifestyle, to work hard when required but take time off when the waves are good.”

To find out more about King Kong Apparel, head to Kingkongapparel.com