Sierra, David and Teresa Saylors, from left, pose with two climbing bags they created out of necessity. Both David and Sierra climb, and couldn’t find a bag that could keep up with them.After watching the gear spill out of his climbing bags again and again for more than 20 years, David Saylors wanted a backpack that would never fall over. His daughter, Sierra, wanted a bag with less pockets and more space.
The two scoured the market for a backpack that fit their specifications, but when their search turned up empty, their motivation to find the perfect bag only increased.
If their ideal pack didn’t exist, the duo decided, they would just have to build it themselves. The idea quickly became an opportunity for David and his wife, Teresa, to create a unique educational experience for their ambitious daughter.
Last year, at age 14, Sierra had already graduated high school and was taking online classes at Bryan College in Dayton, Tennessee. Still, her parents, owners of Saylors Machine & Design Works in Trenton, Georgia, wanted her to have practical experience to accompany her degree, so they challenged her to build a small business.
Thus, Swanky Climbing Gear was born.