Mike Pfotenhauer, founder and chief designer of Osprey

A man who began business with a single sewing machine making rucksacks for himself and his friends was crowned an outdoor celebrity at a major trade show.

Mike Pfotenhauer founded Osprey in 1974 and the company has grown to be one of the top international brands for backpacks.

He flew in from Vietnam to receive his outdoor celebrity of the year award at the giant OutDoor gathering in Friedrichshafen.

Mr Pfotenhauer said: “I never thought of myself as a celebrity. I’m really honoured to be recognised with this award; this is really meaningful to me.

“The joy of my life is in coming up with designs and then making them real. This industry is all about working with people who appreciate the things in life that are meaningful.

“Hence, our vision is to create work that is meaningful to everybody in the company. What’s better than to build product that you can take out into the wilderness and live with day in and day out.”

After finishing university in Santa Cruz he initially started making packs just for himself and his close friends, but word of their quality soon spread and Osprey was born.

Mr Pfotenhauer’s main principle was that the backpacks had to fit users’ backs, so he designed custom-made technical backpacks with an attention to detail for which Osprey is now renowned.

In 2003, he even relocated with his family to Vietnam to oversee production that had been moved from the US to ensure that the outstanding quality of each product was maintained.

From the initial introduction of the breathable mesh panel in 1976 to the new AntiGravity 3D suspended mesh back system in 2015, he has continued to innovate throughout Osprey’s history.

The Osprey founder and chief designer received his award from Frank Wacker of German Outdoor magazine.

Mr Wacker said: “Mike is incredibly humble and this is reflected in the way he works and instils decades of loyalty amongst his employees.

“Thanks to his vision, Osprey has gone from being a small high-end outfit to one of the most influential backpack brands in the world – a very impressive achievement.”