Conversations with Vidal Dias

Today we’d like to introduce you to Vidal Dias.

Hi Vidal, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I created Voyager in 2016 while working as a geologist. It all started because I couldn’t find a multifunctional bag suitable for my work, travel, and active lifestyle. I also wanted a bag with a story that resonated with my life and my voyage.

The inspiration for using carbon fiber stems from my background in geology, and the motivation to make the exterior of the backpack hard came from the strong shell of the leatherback sea turtle. I modeled the bag’s unique design after the sleek pattern of the turtle’s shell.

Carbon is the essential element for all life on earth and the chemical formula for diamonds and graphite “C.” I wanted my bags to reflect light and luster like a crystal. Carbon fiber is also strong and rigid, making my hardshell bags ideal for maintaining their shape and protecting your laptop.

During the pandemic, I began making science-inspired apparel. When Covid started and all the gyms closed, I noticed a sudden loss of meaning in society, and the effects showed in all the civil unrest.

I started creating using the elements to help inspire people to remember who they are and who we can be together. It began with graphic t-shirts and then quickly moved into activewear to encourage people to get outside and connect with the planet, themselves, and each other.

I started with the “I Am CArBON” design because we are all made of carbon; therefore, we are all one. Next came “I Am LiFe” because we are all living elements and a part of life on this planet and our community, so we should accept each other for who we are. Then came my “I am VOYAgEr” because life is a voyage that we create.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I wish I could say yes, it has, but no the voyage has not been easy. Initially, funding was an issue because we were mass-producing backpacks. However, this problem was quickly solved after I acquired my six sigma yellow belt and changed my entire process to be lean. Mass-producing my products require my brand to generate waste by using more resources than we need, which increases our carbon footprint and hurts the planet. As a scientist, I wanted to eliminate as much waste from my production process. I considered producing in bathes, but that is the same as mass production, opening us up to generating waste such as motion.

Producing products as they are ordered enables me to eliminate waste such as inventory, overproduction, motion, overprocessing, and defects!

Covid was also very challenging for me; I’m a very active person, so when the gyms closed, it affected my mental health, and we struggled with bag sales because the travel industry tanked. However, I was blessed to overcome this challenge because I began creating activewear to inspire people to get out into the elements and connect with the planet.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I am an Artist and a geologist. I specialize in creating science-inspired wearable art. I am best known for my carbon fiber bags and for helping people feel more confident in themselves through my apparel.

I love fashion because our wardrobe tells a story of who we are. With my activewear line, I create specific designs to inspire people to feel more confident about their body image and who they are. Sometimes the only motivation we need to be active is to change our clothing.

Do you have any advice for those looking to network or find a mentor?
My best advice for networking is to give back as much as you can. Now, giving back isn’t just volunteering it’s actually much deeper. I found my mentors by being a constant resource of knowledge and helping people solve issues they were having and in turn, they helped me.

Contact Info:

• Email: me@iamvoyager.life
• Website: www.iamvoyager.life
• Instagram: voyager.nation
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thevoyagernation
• Other: https://g.page/r/CcayaSqC110KEBA

Image Credits
https://cassieraedesign.passgallery.com/portfolio