Yes- Ned and Dixon were RISD grads. I have a photo of Ned stating something about thanking us for all of our hard work and maybe it came with a holiday bonus.
They had several people from RISD that worked in R&D. I rented from one of the head R&D person who designed many of those fanny packs, wedges amd worked with the women in design (one of which I know went on to LLBean). While i was working the front desk, they brought another new designer in- a RISD grad.
Their products were well made. It was called Rhode Gear because it was in Rhode Island.
Originally Posted by
woodrupjoe
I had a summer job in a dumpy little jewelry factory in an old industrial building right next to Rhode Gear's space back in 1981. I was in art school at the time and the Rhode Gear folks had gone to RISD (as I recall?). They seemed pretty cool and I really wanted to work in their little factory rather than the crappy job I had.