The name FYi Design may not be the most prominent name in the realm of performance outdoor gear but behind the scenes lies company founder Tom Routh, who has had an integral part in the realm of performance technical outerwear. With his beginnings brought on by an interest in designing backpacks under his own brand CirqueWorks and five years at the legendary Arc’teryx brand, these experiences prepared him for the creation of FYi Design. The multi-faceted company is the backbone behind such programs as Burton [ak] in addition to helping orchestrate lines and products with the likes of AETHER, fragment design and SOPH. Tom and I took the time to speak about many of the underlying things that come together to form FYi Design’s philosophy and approach, as well as some of the industry-specific challenges he faces.