“While creating it, I imagined walking around the Mammoth Lakes area where Ridge Merino is based, so I drew backpacking gear and the animals that live there in my line drawing style.”
That’s how Tokyo-based designer and illustrator Tomu Ohnishi describes bringing this year’s Backpacker Print to life. We dreamed of a fun pattern inspired by nature for this season’s collection, and Tomu was the perfect person to make it happen.
A hiker wearing a Backpacker Print bralette.
Tomu grew up in Mishima, Shizuoka, Japan and always loved drawing. During college, his family took a road trip through national parks in the American West and it deepened his love for nature and hiking. After college, he began his career in graphic design.
Photo of Tomu backpacking by YooHooHike
A few years later, he brought these two interests together and started bringing mountains, nature and the great outdoors into his design and illustration work. He started sharing his nature-inspired art on social media and connected with mountain lovers all over the world.
Posts from Tomu's Instagram
Today Tomu gets outside as much as he can and continues to share his art online and with brands. He loves hiking throughout Japan, especially in the Okuchichibu, Mt. Tanigawa, Sukaisan and Hakuba areas. The John Muir Trail and Pacific Crest Trail in our backyard are on Tomu’s bucket list to hike someday.
"There are two main reasons I go into nature and the mountains. One is to create some distance from society and everyday life, and the other is to find inspiration for my work. I love being able to encounter incredible landscapes while carrying everything I need on my back."
- Tomu Ohnishi
That love of the mountains is baked into this print. In the print are 16 backpacking elements, including a trout, a black bear, a tent, hiking poles, Mammoth’s iconic Crystal Crag and more. See if you can find them all.
A hiker wearing a Backpacker Print neck tube
Wear Tomu’s Backpacker Print this summer in a bralette, hipster briefs, boy shorts, boxer briefs, boxer shorts or a neck tube.
