Legacy outdoor brand the North Face crossed into a new frontier of exploration early this week with the launch of their latest line of winter gear, a collaboration with Skims, the intimates and shapewear brand headed by Kim Kardashian. The 14-piece collection includes a mixture of baselayers, puffer jackets, hats, gloves, balaclavas, and footwear and has already sold out in stores and online since the Dec. 10 release.

A main piece of the collection includes a jacket reminiscent of retro North Face style but in the neutral colorways that Skims fans will instantly recognize. 鈥淜im Kardashian has a love of skiing. She also has a love of the North Face鈥檚 archival design,鈥� says Sandra Clark, director of global brand marketing at the North Face. 鈥淵ou may have seen her in one of our Nuptse jackets [named for the Himalayan peak]. She鈥檚 got a few of our iconic pieces and she鈥檚 even tailored some, so we used that input in our design.鈥�

The collection includes a range of winter gear, including insulated jackets, performance-oriented base layers, and essential accessories for skiing and cold weather. It emphasizes warmth, functionality, and iconic styles, with pieces suited for both casual and technical use. Prices range from mid-range to luxury, from $60 to $1,200 (Skims brought in $713 million in 2023, ).

The Refina is a baselayer capsule within the collaboration collection, featuring a quarter-zip top, leggings, and a one-piece. Designed for performance, the Refina pieces use a material brand-new to the North Face, combining Skims-esque Lycra with their FlashDry technology. This innovative fabric wicks moisture away from the skin, keeping you dry, cool, and comfortable during high-intensity activities. The pieces blend Skims鈥� body-conscious design鈥攅vident in features like the high neck and cinched midsection鈥攚ith the North Face鈥檚 technical expertise, delivering both style and functionality. 鈥淚t鈥檚 all about stretch and compression, giving you that secure fit you would expect from Skims,鈥� says Sandra Clark, director of global brand marketing at the North Face. This material will also feature in future North Face products, including their Spring 鈥�25 collection.

Other pieces in the collaboration feature the North Face鈥檚 DotKnit moisture-wicking fabric, also used in their Summit Series line. The leggings and top fit are slightly looser than the Refina, making it ideal for high-intensity activities like touring. The Skims-inspired design includes a high-waisted legging and a top with a signature neckline, combining functionality with modern style.

Social media posts teasing the collab went live last week, featuring skiers in tidy formations atop snowy peaks in the Chilean Andes at El Colorado. By featuring a mix of professional models and skiers, including , and, the two brands aimed to highlight a message Clark hopes is evident to consumers: This collaboration promotes exploration for everyone and invites more women into snow sports.

The public response, however, has been mixed. While some consumers praised the aesthetics, others criticized the collaboration for prioritizing fashion over function, questioning its utility for serious skiers and its alignment with the North Face鈥檚 sustainability values.

One Instagram user commented, 鈥淣orth Face disappointing again. This is a fashion collab designed for women鈥檚 bodies to be looked at, but the functionality is useless. Where would you actually use this beyond the bunny hill or apr猫s?鈥�

Amid the critiques, commending comments also appeared, such as one user who enthusiastically wrote, 鈥淒amn, ima figure out how to board for this.鈥� One Reddit user wrote, 鈥淎s a Seattle Native, North Face is like our designer brand. I have friends who have never once mentioned the Kardashians to me, and they talked about this [collection] today.鈥� The mixed responses underscore the polarizing nature of blending fashion-forward designs with a traditionally performance-driven sport.

Cassie Abel, founder of the sustainability-focused , who designs with backcountry and freeride skiers and riders in mind, acknowledges the market for women-led resort outerwear brands to lead the way in style.

鈥淚 think there is a place for all of us, and I鈥檓 thrilled to see other women taking the lead in making products we want and need, no matter the style or skill level,鈥� says Abel. 鈥淚 don鈥檛 believe there is a right or wrong here鈥攊t all comes down to personal preference and use cases.鈥�

However, when it comes to attracting more women to snow sports, Abel, who founded , an annual holiday encouraging everyone to shop from , is skeptical that a collaboration between the North Face and Skims hits the mark.

鈥淚鈥檓 disappointed in this one. As a leader in the outdoor space, I鈥檇 expect the North Face to have better filters in place to ensure they鈥檙e working with brands with aligned values,鈥� she says, referring to the low scores Skims has received on many human rights and environmental policies. A report by advocacy group Remake gave Skims a zero score in its 2024 accountability report, citing issues with transparency, wages, and environmental impact.

鈥淎t this stage, I would expect every outdoor brand to uphold the highest levels of respect for people and the planet,鈥� Abel added. 鈥淚f not from a values standpoint, because our industry depends on it.鈥�

This is not the first time the North Face has received mixed attention for their collab projects. The brand has a history of collaborations with pop culture and mainstream brands, often in the designer sphere, like Gucci, Supreme, Comme Des Gar莽ons, Maison Margiela, Timberland, and Vans. However, the partnership with Skims represents a new direction for the company. Dave Whetstone, the North Face鈥檚 director of global collaborations and energy, says this collaboration pushes the brand鈥檚 boundaries by integrating Skims鈥� body-conscious designs and neutral color palettes with the North Face鈥檚 technical performance wear.

鈥淪kims has a price point that鈥檚 more accessible than other fashion collab. This one felt more unexpected but also more accessible,鈥� Whetstone explained.

He says this collab is about an inclusive introduction to the North Face and exploring new possibilities, especially as Skims is innately feminine, something the North Face hasn鈥檛 explored as much with other projects.

鈥淲e are always looking for brands that are innovating and in tune with culture, and Skims is doing that, especially for women when it comes to fit, function, and style,鈥� says Clark. 鈥淲e are proud that we were able to honor one another鈥檚 DNA.鈥�

The post Why the North Face Partnered with Kim Kardashian on the Skims Collab appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.

There鈥檚 nothing like a thrilling winter expedition鈥攖he kind of pursuit that leaves you in awe of the natural world. Whether you鈥檙e navigating riveting mountain ascents or chasing snowy silence in the backcountry, the fourth season introduces challenges that require technique and specialized equipment. Snow, cold, and wind can conspire to turn any outing into an epic. But daunting conditions are no excuse to stay inside, especially if you have the gear to match the season. With a dialed layering system, you can handle whatever winter brings.

That鈥檚 why exists: to keep you warm, dry, prepared, and protected in the face of winter鈥檚 worst. Crafted and refined using field-tested input from The North Face鈥檚 elite athlete team and proven on expeditions around the world, this modular system encompasses every layering piece you need to adapt to unpredictable conditions. No matter what your favorite alpine activity鈥攚hether it鈥檚 skiing, snowboarding, or mountaineering鈥擲ummit Series lets you enjoy the cold, not hide from it.

Better Base Layers

A warm, sweat-wicking base layer is the cornerstone of any effective layering system, and the Summit Pro 120 Crew sets the tone for cold-weather comfort. It blends heat-regulating performance and stretchy mobility in a soft, 100 percent recycled fabric. 鈥淭he Summit Pro fits snug next to skin and keeps me warm while moving the sweat away from my body,鈥� says The North Face Athlete Matt Cornell, who wore Summit Series on multiple expeditions, including the first ascent of Jannu, Nepal. 鈥淚 use it day after day.鈥�

Summit Pro 120 Crew

Multipurpose Midlayers

Temperature regulation while you鈥檙e on the move is the key to staying comfortable in winter: You don鈥檛 want to get too cold, but you also don鈥檛 want to overheat, as sweating too much has its own consequences. Thankfully, this is where midlayers, the next key component of the Summit Series layering system, shine. First up is the FUTUREFLEECE Full-Zip Hoodie, a versatile fleece that provides the perfect balance of warmth and breathability as you forge your way uphill or down. 鈥淲hen I鈥檓 ski touring, I wear it all the way from the start in Chamonix Valley up to the Argenti猫re Basin鈥攚hich is about 6,500 feet of elevation gain,鈥� says alpinist and The North Face Athlete Fay Manners.

FUTUREFLEECE Full-Zip Hoodie

If low temperatures call for a piece with more insulation, The North Face athletes reach for the Breithorn Hoodie. This puffy midlayer鈥檚 800-fill, water-repellent ProDown preserves warmth and resists precipitation. It also makes the jacket compressible enough to stash in a pack until you need it鈥攁t which point you鈥檒l be glad you took it along for the ride. 鈥淲e were forced to spend the night just below the summit on a tiny sloping edge. The Breithorn appeared as a beacon of warmth at the bottom of my pack. I鈥檝e never loved it more than I did at that moment,鈥� recounts athlete Coline Girod about an exposed bivy in the French Alps.

Breithorn Hoodie

Weather Protection, Perfected

Embracing winter weather means heading into the storm, not running from it. When snow and wind are in the forecast, having a fortresslike shell鈥攁nother essential element in the Summit Series system鈥攊s paramount. On high-octane missions requiring an outer layer that provides breathability and dependable protection, the Torre Egger FUTURELIGHT Jacket is your best friend: Its FUTURELIGHT three-layer membrane, The North Face鈥檚 most breathable waterproof fabric, will keep you from redlining. And although it鈥檚 a lightweight piece, this shell is built to last: 鈥淲hen I鈥檓 on-route, I鈥檒l often rest an ice ax on my shoulder if I鈥檓 placing protection or switching hands. The Torre Egger鈥檚 durability means I don鈥檛 have to worry about damaging the material,鈥� says Manners.

Torre Egger FUTURELIGHT Jacket

Built for skiing and snowboarding, the freeride-inspired Verbier GORE-TEX庐 Jacket is another shell that provides a reliable refuge from the elements. Its rugged three-layer GORE-TEX庐 construction will keep you dry and warm. Thoughtful design touches such as an articulated fit, a powder skirt, and seamless shoulders make this a do-it-all shell that excels from the skin track to the drop-in. Just ask pro snowboarder and The North Face Athlete Victor de Le Rue: 鈥淭he Verbier Jacket is a thin but durable shell that breathes where I need it to. It鈥檚 easy to layer under and has big, efficient pockets that are perfect for what I do,鈥� he says.

Verbier GORE-TEX庐 Jacket

On-Demand Heat

When the mercury plummets, the final layer of the Summit Series system locks in heat and keeps freezing temps at bay. The Pumori Down Parka is the warmest jacket in the Summit Series arsenal, providing luxuriously cozy defense against the cold. Stuffed with lofty 800-fill ProDown that鈥檚 water-repellent and ultrapackable, the Pumori鈥檚 feature set鈥攚hich includes concealed hand pockets, internal drop pockets, an adjustable hem and hood, and a two-way zipper鈥攃onserves every possible bit of heat. 鈥淭his jacket allows me to step into the unknown with confidence, knowing I have the absolute right piece for anything,鈥� says skier and The North Face Athlete Christina Lusti. Each layer in the system works together to strike the highest level of warmth while remaining adaptable to the conditions. And that鈥檚 what Summit Series is all about: the perfect winter layering system for whatever may come.

Pumori Down Parka

The North Face, a division of VF Outdoor LLC, was founded in 1966 with the goal of preparing outdoor athletes for the rigors of their next adventure. Today we are the world’s leading outdoor brand, creating athlete-tested, expedition-proven products that help people explore and test the limits of human potential. We protect our outdoor playgrounds and minimize our impact on the planet through programs that encourage sustainability. The North Face products are available at premium and specialty retail sporting goods stores globally and the company is headquartered in鈥疍enver,鈥疌olorado. For more information, please visit鈥�.

The post How to Stay Warm鈥攁nd Stay Out鈥擳his Winter appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.

Rod Farvard鈥檚 mustache might be my favorite in all of running. It鈥檚 neither thick nor groomed, neither oiled nor manicured. It鈥檚 messy. It鈥檚 patchy. It curls at the ends. I think I caught him snacking on his own facial hair the day his whole body began snacking on itself at the highest point in Thailand, as he attempted to run the 100-miler in December, 2022.

I didn鈥檛 know it at the time but his kidneys were failing and his father had nearly died from cardiac arrest on the plane a few days prior. I鈥檇 probably gnaw on my mustache, too.

Rod Farvard, 27, from Mammoth Lakes, California, is an up-and-coming elite ultrarunner and former triathlete. In 2022, he was selected as one of 17 athletes for the North Face鈥檚 (ADP), the latest emerging model of innovative athlete support and sponsorship, ways that companies and organizations are beginning to think differently about how to support athletes and changemakers within the endurance community.

The North Face announced ADP in March 2022 as a way to 鈥渢o equip aspiring athletes with the tools and financial means to achieve their athletic goals and inspire other adventurers within their communities.鈥� The program was established to face systemic barriers in the recruitment process that often keep underrepresented communities across race, ethnicity, gender, sexuality, and differently-abled athletes from excelling in their discipline.

The North Face would select a small cohort of athletes and offer them a two-year contract with funding, gear, education, and one-on-one mentorship to accelerate their progress and reach the next level of their sport. After a short application period, they received 2,500 applicants, and athletes were chosen in February 2023, . In addition to Farvard, ADP trail runners include Helen Mino Faukner, Rudy Lindquist, Sophia Gorman, Terence Copeland, Laura Cortez.

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To Pro or Not to Pro

To understand why Farvard was selected in this pool of talented athletes, it鈥檚 helpful to know more about his background. Farvard ran cross country in high school. In 2012, during senior year, he dropped out of a California state race after hitting a wall at mile two.

鈥淔or whatever reason it ate at me for so long,鈥� he said.

Farvard eventually turned to marathons, then to triathlons, where he competed at U.C. Santa Barbara for two years. 鈥淓ver since then, I鈥檝e been trying to find that wall again. I want to get to that cracking point so much. I want to prove to myself that I am better than that internally,鈥� he said.

After college, Farvard lived in San Francisco and worked in tech. He ran his first ultra when he was 19, and went on to podium several races in California over the next few years, including a win in 2019, at the Kodiak 100. In 2021, he set the supported FKT for the John Muir Trail, north-to-south (3 days, 16 hours, 2 minutes), an impressive effort that positioned him for future success in ultras. In 2022, he picked up a Golden Ticket at Canyons 100K, had a rough day at Western States, but fortunately made up for it with a 23rd place finish at UTMB, one of the top American finishers. He鈥檒l be returning to States this year.

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As someone who had been a competitive athlete while also holding a full-time job, he鈥檚 flirted for years with trying to run full-time. 鈥淎ll it means is that you鈥檙e giving yourself a shot,鈥� he said. This sentiment lies at the heart of why he applied for the ADP program in the first place. He wanted to give himself a shot to commit fully to ultrarunning. Farvard found himself in a position where he was less interested in acquiring any random sponsor, and more inspired to collaborate with a brand he could get behind. That鈥檚 when he thought of the North Face.

 

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鈥淭he type of people here, like the level of boundaries that the athletes want to push, was just always incredibly inspiring to me,鈥� he said.

All 17 ADP athletes come from different backgrounds, sports, and vocations. In fact, most athletes applied to the program for different reasons. 鈥�The North Face comes at it from an angle of: how do we represent more people in our sport that still have incredible potential to be really good athletes, but that they may be getting overlooked right now?鈥� he said. 鈥淚f you want to foster talent in the sport and not just have a one-hit wonder with athletes, I think these mentorship programs are incredibly important.鈥�

One-on-One Mentorship

Every ADP athlete gets paired with a to collaborate on projects and receive mentorship through their two-year contract. The cohort meets bi-weekly, with new guest speakers on each call. Recently, a session has been focused on developing the athletes鈥� deepest intentions for pursuing the sport and goals鈥攃ultivating their why.

鈥淚t鈥檚 easy when you鈥檙e racing all the time to just think about who you want to be as an athlete and what races you want to podium at and where you want to get to the sport,鈥� said Farvard. 鈥淏ut, why? Why do you want to get to that level? The North Face is stopping us here and having us craft our story, to try and figure out our why, what drives us to want to do all these goals.鈥�

Farvard was paired with North Face Global Athlete Zach Miller, 2023 winner of the Tarawera 100 Mile race, fifth place and first American at the 2022 Ultra Trail du Mont Blanc, and, most recently, his epic finish at the , to name a few of his many accolades. 鈥淲e both have really big goals and both like love getting after it. So we鈥檝e had fun creating different ideas,鈥� said Farvard.

鈥淚鈥檝e really enjoyed getting to mentor Rod,鈥� said Miller. 鈥淗e鈥檚 a great guy who has already done some impressive things in the trail running space. He鈥檚 motivated, thoughtful, and dialed in his pursuits. He shows a lot of maturity and a desire to learn and grow as an athlete. I鈥檓 enjoying seeing Rod progress and hope that in some way I can take the knowledge and experience that I鈥檝e acquired in this sport and pass it on to him.鈥�

Every ADP athlete gets a guaranteed $5,000 to spend on a project of their choosing, but they鈥檒l work with their mentor to devise a project proposal and pitch to The North Face, with the intention of telling stories through expeditionary projects of each athletes鈥� reason for doing what they do. In the process, Farvard has already had great opportunities to network, skillshare, and commit to manifesting his dreams.

鈥淚鈥檝e been more encouraged to take ownership of what I鈥檓 most passionate about and pursue it to a full level,鈥� said Farvard. 鈥淎nd being surrounded by all these different athletes who are doing that is really encouraging.鈥�

The Collective Is Key

Esther Kendall is the North Face鈥檚 Global Sports Marketing Manager, and she is overwhelmed with how generative the program has been. 鈥淚t has been a huge team effort,鈥� said Kendall. 鈥淭he athletes are so positive, so eager to learn, and so open to having conversations, and have come together as a team so quickly.鈥� A central goal of the Athlete Development Program, according to Kendall, was rethinking the North Face鈥檚 approach to working with athletes.

鈥淚f you talk to any athlete on our team, they didn鈥檛 get to where they are alone,鈥� said Kendall. 鈥淭he primary goal is to equip aspiring athletes with tools and resources to achieve their athletic goals, to take responsibility as a brand, looking for the best athletes in the world and help people get there who might not have a clear path to connections or opportunities.鈥�

Her selection committee really looked for athletes who were on the cusp of the next big thing. 鈥淩od鈥檚 a great example of someone who has had successes but still has so much more to offer our sport, not only in terms of performance but as someone interested in building and growing the trail community,鈥� said Kendall. 鈥淗e is resilient and is able to find joy and positivity, even when things are not going to plan.鈥�

Another ADP athlete Laura Cortez, 29, from Denver, Colorado. Cortez鈥檚 personal mission, as part of the program, is to 鈥渇oster welcoming environments for the communities to define what the outdoors is for themselves.鈥� , Cortez鈥檚 experience with the ADP program, like Farvard鈥檚, has been overwhelmingly positive. 鈥淎 large part of this process is getting the chance to look behind the curtain at what being a professional athlete with a big brand looks like, and learning the business side of it,鈥� she said.

In 2020, Cortez started Trailtinos, a running group for Latinx and Hispanic runners in the Denver area. The group hosts group runs and meet-ups to increase visibility for the Latinx community and provide a sense of community and source of support in a predominately white sport.

If you want to foster talent in the sport and not just have a one-hit wonder with athletes, I think these mentorship programs are incredibly important.

Cortez is paired with Flagstaff, Arizona, runner Rob Krar, and they chat weekly. 鈥淗e鈥檚 been in the sport for a hot minute, so it鈥檚 really special to listen to him talk about how much the sport has changed and how the opportunities on the professional side have grown, too.鈥�

Cortez鈥檚 goals with the ADP were twofold. First, she really wanted to dive into what it would feel like to be a professional athlete. 鈥淚t鈥檚 something I鈥檝e always wanted to give myself the chance to do, by having enough financial and athlete support (coach, nutrition help, strength/conditioning, mentorship, connections),鈥� said Cortez. 鈥淭he support the North Face is providing us with has helped me make major strides there.鈥� Second, she wanted to grow as an advocate for cultural healing through sport. 鈥淭his more action-taking approach has helped me think of new ways to show up for my community and really assess the underlying barriers and layers of nuance that can interfere not only our participation in sport, but being outside in general.鈥�

But perhaps the most compelling case to be made for the power of something like the ADP is the community. With the ADP, athletes are representing disciplines of climbing, skiing, snowboarding, trail running, and alpinism, and the diversity of creative skill-sharing is powerful.

As someone who grew up playing team sports, Cortez found being part of this cohort of talent energizing. 鈥淥nce you become an adult and continue doing sports at a higher level, the overall participation changes. Schedules and priorities shift, engagement wears off, and it can be difficult to find a group of like-minded folks who want to push themselves as much as you do,鈥� she said.

Next Up? Western States

On June 24, Farvard will toe the line at Western States, his third time running the historic race. In some ways, Western States is one of his greatest challenges. 鈥淲hat keeps bringing me back is that I have not figured it out. It鈥檚 just such a hard race to understand,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 like this massive puzzle; there鈥檚 just so many more pieces to get it right.鈥�

After recovering from States, he鈥檒l build for TDS at UTMB, a 90-mile course with over 30,000 feet of vertical gain. And though he couldn鈥檛 share every detail about the The North Face project he鈥檚 developing, with the assistance of Zach Miller, it will be attempted at the end of September, and it will involve an attempt to link up all the eastern Sierra 14ers by human-power. One can only hope that his mustache will come along for the ride.

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We鈥檙e picking companies every month that have impressed us with their recent business savvy鈥攚hether through a new product release, a canny marketing move, a grabby social-media post, social and environmental issues or something else entirely that we didn鈥檛 see coming. The goal: to celebrate the forward thinkers, outside-the-box strategists, and generally awesome professionals moving the outdoor industry forward.

So, with a pencils-on-desk drumroll, here are September鈥檚 picks.

Winner: Patagonia

Patagonia founder and owner Yvon Chouinard made international headlines in September when he announced that he was giving away his $3 billion company to help protect the environment. Chouinard and his family have placed control of the company鈥檚 direction into a trust and created a new 501(c)(4) nonprofit that will receive all profits not reinvested in the business and spend them on environmental causes. That charitable sum is estimated to reach $100 million a year.

In establishing the new corporate structure, Chouinard and his family have ensured that Patagonia鈥檚 mission of being in business to 鈥渟ave our home planet鈥� continues for generations to come.

Runner-Up: REI with Outdoor Afro Inc.

Last month, REI and Outdoor Afro Inc. launched a co-created line of outdoor clothing designed to 鈥渃elebrate the nature in all of us.鈥� The Outdoor Afro Inc. + REI Co-op Hike Collection features clothing and footwear in sizes, colors, and graphics that celebrate and encourage everyone to enjoy the outdoors comfortably and stylishly.

鈥淏lack people have always spent time outside across a variety of activities, but the community has always felt a gap in finding gear that fits, functions well, feels good, and represents their personal style,鈥� said Rue Mapp, the founder of Outdoor Afro Inc., a for-profit group that collaborates with companies on design, marketing, and sales. 鈥淩EI was the right partner to listen deeply and help us create a collection that would start to meet those needs.鈥�

Mapp began the nonprofit Outdoor Afro (distinct from Outdoor Afro Inc.) in 2010 to encourage all people to get outside and enjoy nature. As part of her new joint venture with REI, Mapp unveiled Outdoor Afro Inc., which is now working to design and bring to market a variety of outdoor gear aimed at making the industry more inclusive.

Runner-Up: The North Face

The North Face also announced last month that, from now on, it鈥檚 calling all of its fleece products High Pile Fleece and discontinuing the name 鈥淪herpa鈥� in its designs.

鈥淔or decades, The North Face and the broader textile and fashion industries have used the term Sherpa to describe fleece material,鈥� The North Face said in a statement. 鈥淏ut Sherpa is not an adjective; it is a term used to describe the Sherpa people鈥攁 group with a rich cultural heritage and an integral role in the world of mountaineering.鈥�

The former Sherpa name referred to the thick fleece that resembled the wool outers commonly worn by members of the Sherpa community, famous for their heroic mountaineering deeds in summiting (and helping others summit) Mount Everest and the planet鈥檚 other highest peaks.

While the use of the term was intended as a respectful nod to the Sherpa culture and its contributions to mountaineering, The North Face said it recognizes that many of its customers remain unaware of who the Sherpa people are and of their contributions and sacrifices to exploration. Alongside the name change, The North Face is also launching a campaign designed to celebrate and educate its customer base about the Sherpa culture and highlight the accomplishments of the Sherpa community, including The North Face athlete team member Dawa Sherpa.

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Eddie Bauer is getting into the used-gear game. With the brand鈥檚 expansion of its program this month鈥攚hich now offers resale products at huge markdowns, as well as gear rentals鈥攖he company joins a growing movement to make the outdoor space more inclusive and environmentally sound by eschewing the 鈥渘ew, new, new鈥� mantra of the past.

鈥淥ur goal with the (Re)国产吃瓜黑料 program is to provide a more accessible option for getting people outdoors, as well as reducing our environmental footprint,鈥� vice president of Eddie Bauer marketing, Kristen Elliott, told OBJ. 鈥淭he program allows us to bring technical apparel and gear to more people at an approachable cost, and ensure more people have the outdoor experiences they want.鈥�

Eddie Bauer is only the latest in a growing list of brands using circular commerce to offer affordable products to more customers and keep goods out of landfills.

Here are five other companies with similar programs.

Patagonia

Through Patagonia鈥檚 program, customers can trade in their worn and torn Patagonia clothing, which is then patched and resold, in exchange for store credit. The mismatched colors from the scrap fabric used to patch tears is touted as a selling point. (And, in truth, some of the of old Patagonia gear are pretty cool.)

REI

Who doesn鈥檛 need more REI gift cards? Co-op members get one when they trade in clothing through the retailer鈥檚 program. Pieces are assessed, cleaned, and then put back into the world through REI鈥檚 .

The North Face

Returned, damaged, and defective North Face clothing is repaired and offered at discount prices through the company鈥� program鈥攚hich, like Patagonia鈥檚, leans hard into the funky, bohemian vibe that cutting up clothing and sewing mismatched parts back together inevitably produces. Clothing that has been patched is sold as its own dedicated collection, called .

础谤肠鈥檛别谤测虫

Feeling entrepreneurial? The 鈥渄ead bird鈥� company allows customers to sell used 础谤肠鈥檛别谤测虫 clothing and gear themselves through its听听program. Customers using the program receive a give card good toward purchases online and at Arc’teryx’s retail locations.

Stio

厂迟颈辞鈥檚 program pays up to 25 percent of original retail value for used Stio pieces that customers send in. Participants receive a credit that can be used for purchases at Stio.com or any location.

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Maybe we鈥檙e biased, but we like to think outdoor gear companies are changing the world in ways that far surpass the size of their business. The outdoor industry is full of adventurers who are passionate about playing hard in nature and working hard to protect it. And you can bet the people who work at these brands are talking to one another.

They meet up at industry events, and they ski, climb, hike, camp, paddle, and practice yoga with another, trading intel about threats our public lands face and trying to figure out what they can do about it. Many of these companies鈥� leaders directly and indirectly push each other to set and meet challenging goals for getting plastic out of shipping, making their designs more eco-friendly, or rallying customers to advocate for public policy change. And as they influence one another to make their businesses better, they influence us to make better choices, too.

Of course, the ultimate sustainability move is to not make anything at all. Making more stuff鈥攔egardless of what it is鈥攔equires resources. Crafting apparel from organic cotton doesn鈥檛 un-use the water it takes to turn that cotton into a t-shirt, and neither does planting an entire forest of trees. So it takes a lot more than green听design to have a net-positive impact on the world.听

There are hundreds, if not thousands, of companies doing valuable work to not just offset the impact of producing consumer goods but also improve the outdoors. We think the the eight brands listed here go above and beyond. They push the envelope for sustainability in design鈥攚hich should be the bare minimum these days anyway鈥�raise the standards for corporate and social responsibility in ways that improve lives around the world, have meaningful environmental impact, and influence both competitors and customers for the better.听

Patagonia

Obviously, you can鈥檛 talk about advocacy, conservation, or political action within the outdoor industry without namedropping Patagonia. In addition to the brand鈥檚 well-publicized stunts to raise money for environmental causes鈥攍ike donating all of its Black Friday sales, , to 1% for the Planet back in 2016鈥擯atagonia also holds social influence to motivate its customers to take political action. The company鈥檚 Worn Wear program has made it cool to repair, upcycle, and recycle your worn-out stuff instead of just tossing it or letting it rot in the back of your closet, keeping untold heaps of clothing out of landfills. It鈥檚 not afraid to campaign for political change or pick fights with state, federal, or outdoor industry leadership. And Patagonia鈥檚 workplace policies have set and raised standards that transcend the outdoor industry, from offering childcare at its headquarters to committing to posting bail for employees who are arrested for protesting abortion restrictions.

The bottom line: Patagonia is the O.G. benchmark for corporate responsibility, and has shown us time and again that it is indeed possible to run a profitable business while also standing for something, treating people well, and making a damn good product that lasts for generations鈥攖he ultimate sustainable design.

REI

As one of the biggest retailers of outdoor gear in the U.S., REI Co-op holds a massive amount of influence. And it鈥檚 proven willing to wield that power to make positive change not just for the environment but for social good. Take REI鈥檚, for example: a $30 million program to provide funding and support for non-white entrepreneurs鈥攚ho currently make up just 1 percent of outdoor industry brand founders. Separately, the REI Cooperative Action Fund provides grants to local organizations across the country who are working on recreation access issues for the millions of Americans who can鈥檛 easily get out in nature or don鈥檛 feel like they belong in the great outdoors.

REI also exerts influence on the brands it stocks, pushing them to invest in greener design and expand size inclusivity. Its demand that brand partners do the following, among other things: establish an action plan to calculate and reduce their carbon footprints; annually measure and share sustainability outputs performance; have policies in place to prevent cultural appropriation; and use ethically-sourced down and wool. By 2030, every product on REI shelves is expected to have at least one for sustainability, such as Bluesign-approved chemicals or Climate Neutral certification.

As a beloved retailer and adventure outfitter, REI influences us, too: REI鈥檚 shares information about pending legislation affecting climate change, equity in outdoor access, and conservation, and provides tools to help customers get in touch with their elected officials. Through this platform, REI has recorded sending over 140,000 letters to representatives . And you can call #Opt国产吃瓜黑料 a publicity stunt if you like, but show us another ad campaign that sparked a widespread seven-year (and counting) tradition to ditch Black Friday shopping in favor of spending the day outdoors.

Finally, REI has demonstrated attention and care to threats to its own employees, if they have to travel out of state to do it.

Tentree

Here鈥檚 the problem with audacious claims to change the world through product sales or one-for-one style donation campaigns (鈥測ou buy X, we give Y鈥�): How on Earth can you verify that the cause you think you鈥檙e helping actually benefits from your dollars? Tentree has clearly thought about this.

Since 2012, Tentree has been planting 10 trees for every product sold. That amounts to more than 80 million trees to date, and they’re well on their way to their goal of planting 1 billion by 2030. Since this past Earth Day they鈥檙e taking it one step further with a blockchain verification system that lets customers check in and confirm that the trees their products supported have actually been planted. The system,, is backed by the public blockchain platform Cardano and makes it possible for everyone involved in the tree planting to keep in touch, track progress, and stay accountable to orders placed. Other companies that promote planting programs can use the technology, too.听

Tentree鈥檚 commitment to transparency applies to its own business, too: The company has gone through the rigorous process of being (with an impressive score of 124.6, far above the required 80 point threshold) and has published an explaining exactly how they measure the environmental impact of their products and how they compare to conventional design. Want to support the cause without buying new stuff? Tentree also enables customers to buy carbon offsets in the form of themed tree planting packages to make up for Netflix binges, delivery habits, international flights, and more.听

Janji

Janji stands out for its to support one goal鈥攃lean water access鈥攁round the globe. Each year, the running apparel brand commissions local artists to design a unique product line with a limited run. For their latest product drop, Janji hired Indonesian artist . He used a traditional Batik technique, which involves color blocking on fabric canvas with wax, to create his prints for the series.

The company takes special care to manufacture clothes using durable fabric that is often recycled and designed to reduce microfiber shedding. Two percent of proceeds from every piece sold go back to a local NGO partner working on water sanitation and access projects in the artists鈥� communities. Janji鈥檚 latest NGO recipient is , which is working to remove garbage from Indonesia鈥檚 Citarum River, one of the world鈥檚 most polluted waterways.

Janji also recently introduced a membership program that gives customers a lifetime discount in exchange for a $25 fee, to those same clean water initiatives around the world.听

Toad & Co

Being a sustainable apparel company requires more these days than simply using the least water-intensive fabric you can find. And while Toad & Co is committed to using organic and recycled fibers and Bluesign- and Oeko-Tex-certified materials, it鈥檚 also shown a clear commitment to investing in the circular economy. As a founding partner to the Renewal Workshop, which has since been acquired by global supply chain manager Bleckmann, Toad & Co got in on the ground floor with an idea that has since diverted over .

More recently, the brand has curated its own vintage line and partnered with online secondhand retailer ThredUp to encourage customers to send in clothing from any brand in exchange for store credit. They鈥檙e working to ship those products in eco-friendlier ways, too. From experimenting with reusable mailers and fully-recyclable paper packaging to to test-drive paper poly bags (the protective coverings your clothing is usually shipped in), Toad & Co seems willing to take risks in pursuit of 鈥攐ne of which is to be plastic-free by 2026.

Toad & Co has a longstanding commitment to providing employment and improving recreation access issues for people with disabilities. In 1997 the brand partnered with nonprofit Search, Inc. to co-found the Planet Access Company, which provides job training and employment for people with developmental disabilities. Since 2000, Toad & Co has also provided grants to fund outdoor adventures for people who face barriers to access.

LifeStraw

LifeStraw acts like a people-first, not product-first, company. It started out by developing a simple plastic straw for humanitarian work to prevent Guinea worm disease. In the ensuing decades, the company has grown to make impressive sales of trail-focused water filters, and it puts proceeds toward funding clean water projects and providing emergency relief in disaster situations.

LifeStraw hires local employees in the communities it operates instead of dropping in workers from elsewhere in the world, and provides necessary education, training, and support around water safety rather than just dropping off products and heading home. Its efforts have helped tens of millions of people, including 6 million kids a year who get access to safe drinking water with LifeStraw water purification systems in their schools.听

LifeStraw is certified as a Climate Neutral company and has , as does its parent company, Vestergaard. It also has a robust internal code of conduct and non-discrimination and anti-harassment policies, all of which are publicly available to read.

BioLite

BioLite鈥檚 innovative solar, power, and cookstove products make great backpacking companions, but its household products are also directly changing lives in communities where people lack access to electricity, artificial lighting, and clean-burning stoves. Biolite cookstoves have been certified by the United Nations as a viable carbon-reducing solution, which they鈥檝e been able to monetize to offset their production costs and provide the stoves inexpensively to people who need them. While producing solar products can be environmentally taxing itself, BioLite has been independently to prove that the carbon emissions from those its manufacturing operations are suitably offset.

BioLite estimates that it provided clean energy access to over 2 million people last year alone, and is aiming to reach 20 million total by 2025. The brand also says it offset an estimated 719,000 tons of CO2 in 2021, equivalent to taking 155,000 cars (that鈥檚 very roughly the entire population of a small city like Tallahassee, Florida) off the road for an entire year.

And if that鈥檚 not enough, BioLite products are also putting significant cash back into the pockets of its customers. According to the company鈥檚 the annual energy savings families have realized from these products amounted to an estimated $176 million last year, which for many of BioLite鈥檚 lowest-income customers equates to about 14 percent of their annual income.听

The North Face

As the outdoor industry鈥檚 second-biggest brand (Patagonia is the first, ), when The North Face speaks, everyone listens. And by expertly straddling the adventure space and lifestyle consumer apparel, TNF has a wide, diverse audience. In recent years, the brand has put money and movements behind inclusivity projects making impacts in communities across the U.S. Just one example: TNF鈥檚 adventure grant program Explore Fund recently got a major overhaul when the brand committed an additional $7 million and . And another: the Walls Are Meant for Climbing campaign provided funding for local community recreation projects like a climbing wall in in the face of calls to 鈥渂uild that wall鈥� at the border.

Behind the scenes, TNF is continually working on improving its design sustainability鈥攁nd with the scale of the business, those changes have wide-reaching effects. Its PFC-free Futurelight series pushes the envelope for sustainable waterproof gear made without harsh, greenhouse gas-emitting chemicals. And to using 100 percent听organic, regenerative, responsibly-sourced or recycled fabrics, FSC-certified shipping materials, and no single-use plastics by 2025.

TNF has also made it easier for individual customers to shop more sustainably. Its sell repaired gear and one-of-a-kind pieces, like down parkas, that have been professionally cleaned and repaired by designers who鈥檝e taken rips and tears as invitations to make something special. And through its program, people can drop off unwanted clothes at any TNF retail shop鈥攔egardless of who made them鈥攕o they can be sent off and sorted for reuse or responsible recycling into raw materials.

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A Colorado district judge ruled late last month that Colorado-based Cocona Labs, creators of 37.5 Technology, can move forward with two separate lawsuits accusing The North Face (TNF) and Columbia of patent infringement.

The two cases date to 2016, when Cocona sued VF Corporation (TNF’s parent company) and Columbia Sportswear Co., alleging that the apparel brands had illegally incorporated Cocona’s patent-protected thermoregulating technology into their products.

In response, The North Face filed a petition with the U.S. Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) to challenge the validity of several of Cocona’s patent claims. PTAB ruled that one of those claims was, in fact, invalid鈥攂ut two were upheld. When the North Face appealed PTAB’s decision, a court of appeals affirmed the ruling.

With this latest development in Colorado, both cases will now reopen and move forward.

“We were expecting to come back to Colorado district court last year, but that was delayed because of VF and Columbia filing extensive motions that the cases shouldn鈥檛 move forward,” said Blair Kanis, general counsel for Cocona. “Now that a Colorado district court has said the case is moving ahead, we expect to have a court date set within the next month.”

Kanis said that once the case reopens, she expects it will be at least 18 months before a final verdict is reached, and possibly much longer.

“If we win this case, it will get appealed,” said Cocona CEO Jeff Bowman. “It will go on, unless we鈥檙e able to settle at some point. Even though it鈥檚 been five years and a million-dollar investment, we’re looking at another two to three years.”

Despite the time and cost, investment in the lawsuits has been worth it for Cocona from a business perspective, according to Bowman. “Our business is developing and licensing IP,” he said. “Incumbent on the business model is the need to protect that IP. Otherwise, what do you have? You have to assume there鈥檚 a win on the back side that鈥檚 worth the investment.”

Both VF and Columbia declined to comment.

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Twenty-five of the outdoor industry’s biggest brands鈥攊ncluding Patagonia, REI, and The North Face鈥攈ave a message for Outdoor Retailer in advance of the trade show’s decision about where its next home will be: “We will not support or attend an event in Utah,” the businesses say.

The statement, published today in a press release by The Conservation Alliance, cites Utah’s spotty public-lands record as the main reason for the decision.

“Despite widespread industry objections, Emerald [Outdoor Retailer’s parent company] has demonstrated a continued interest in moving the Outdoor Retailer trade show to Utah, a state that leads the fight against designated national monuments and public lands,” the release read. “Industry leaders are expressing their support for the Bears Ears Inter-Tribal Coalition and its longstanding efforts to protect the homeland of the Tribes and Pueblos with cultural ties to the Bears Ears landscape [in Utah].”

A Long-Simmering Debate Boils Over

Anyone following Outdoor Retailer in the news over the past several months might have seen this coming. At the end of 2022, the trade show鈥檚 current five-year contract with the City of Denver will expire, and politicians from both Colorado and Utah are publicly appealing to Emerald to win the next one.

In January, Colorado Senators Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper and Colorado Governor Jared Polis sent a letter to Emerald, urging show organizers to keep the event in Denver. 鈥淭he leaders of the outdoor industry have spoken with an articulate and strong voice that this cornerstone event belongs in a state that shares its values on public land and recreation,” Bennet, Hickenlooper, and Polis wrote at the time.

In Utah, Governor Spencer Cox has been busy with his own appeal. In September 2021, he released a video laying out his case for bringing the show back to the Beehive State. “We’re working with key stakeholders and the Department of the Interior to establish sustainable ways to manage Bears Ears National Monument and other cherished public lands,鈥� Cox said in the video, an indication that he understands how important the issue is to Outdoor Retailer’s customers.

Responding to the news, OR show director Marisa Nicholson told OBJ that Emerald is still weighing its options and hasn’t come to a decision about where the trade show’s next home will be.

“We have been in ongoing conversations with many across our industry and are taking all input and perspectives into consideration,” said Nicholson. “We appreciate the passion and respect everyone’s point of view. No decisions around future dates or location have been decided at this time, and we look forward to sharing our thoughts in the coming days.”

Complicating the situation is the trade show’s already fraught history with the State of Utah. Prior to staging in Denver, the show lived for years in Salt Lake City. In 2018, it moved to Denver to protest then-Utah Governor Gary Herbert’s support of the shrinking of Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monuments. Colorado welcomed the show鈥攁nd the tens of millions of dollars in local economic impact it promised to bring with it鈥攚ith open arms.

鈥淲e are ready to roll out the welcome mat,鈥� Hickenlooper, then Colorado鈥檚 governor, said when the show came to The Mile High City. 鈥淲e can鈥檛 wait to greet our new visitors and enjoy the energy and momentum this will bring to the region.鈥�

Continued Resistance to a Utah Trade Show

The announcement about Outdoor Retailer鈥檚 next home is expected any day. After OR Summer in 2021,听Nicholson said听there鈥檚 鈥渁 really good chance鈥� the show stays in Denver, but that if it doesn鈥檛, it will relocate to Anaheim, Las Vegas, Orlando, or Salt Lake City.

鈥淎t the end of the day, this is the industry鈥檚 show,鈥� Nicholson said in August of last year. 鈥淲e鈥檙e going to continue to host the show where the industry wants it to be.鈥�

As of this week, that decision might be made simpler for OR. Even if show organizers have softened on Utah, it鈥檚 clear many of their customers haven鈥檛鈥攁nd it鈥檚 difficult to imagine Emerald would go forward with plans for a Utah event with so many of its prominent exhibitors in fierce opposition.

鈥淚n 2017, REI strongly supported the decision to move the outdoor industry trade show out of Utah when the state鈥檚 leadership refused to protect duly designated national monuments and natural treasures,鈥� said Ben Steele, REI鈥檚 chief customer officer, in today鈥檚 release. 鈥淩EI will not participate in any OR trade show in [Utah]鈥攏or will we send members of our merchandising or other co-op teams鈥攕o long as Utah persists in attacking our public lands and the laws that听protect them.鈥�

Ryan Gellert, Patagonia鈥檚 CEO, puts forward a similar sentiment in the release. 鈥淥ur position on the location of the Outdoor Retailer trade show remains clear and unchanged: the show belongs in a state whose top officials value and seek to protect public lands,鈥� he wrote.

It鈥檚 possible OR could survive in Utah even without the support of these big exhibitors. Even with a move to Salt Lake City, hundreds of brands would likely still attend. The event also wouldn鈥檛 be alone on the Utah trade-show circuit. The Big Gear Show鈥攁nother of the industry鈥檚 prominent events鈥攈osted its inaugural show in Park City last summer, and plans to return there for a second iteration this year. Big Gear Show show organizers could not immediately be reached for comment about their position on hosting a trade event in Utah.

Brands Joining the Protest

The following brands joined The Conservation Alliance in signing the statement released today.

• REI
• Patagonia
• The North Face
• Public Lands
• Keen Footwear
• Oboz Footwear
• Kelty
• Sierra Designs
• Peak Design
• Toad&Co
• Scarpa
• MiiR
• NEMO Equipment
• Backpacker鈥檚 Pantry
• Smartwool
• Therm-A-Rest
• MSR
• Timberland
• Helinox
• GU Energy Labs
• La Sportiva
• Alpacka Raft
• Icebreaker
• 础谤肠鈥檛别谤测虫

Concluding the release, leaders from these brands wrote, 鈥淪o long as Utah鈥檚 elected delegation continues its assault on public lands and the laws designed to protect them, Emerald faces a choice: move the show to Utah and ensure that many of the key players in the outdoor industry will not return to Utah with the trade show, or work with the industry leaders to shape a future trade show that balances the interests and values of industry members and partners.鈥�

Does 鈥楴o鈥� to Utah Mean 鈥榊es鈥� to Colorado?

The big question, of course, is whether these signatory brands鈥攎any of which have not attended OR since before the pandemic鈥攚ill come back to the show even if it does stay in Denver. In the last two years, many have found workable alternatives to attending OR. And there鈥檚 some indication that, while once a pandemic necessity, these workarounds are starting to become the status quo.

In the coming days, 国产吃瓜黑料 Business Journal will be reaching out to the businesses on the above list for more details regarding their trade show plans in 2023 and beyond.

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Colorado-based VF Corporation announced in an internal email yesterday that, beginning January 1 of next year, the company will require all office-based U.S. employees to be vaccinated against COVID-19. Affected employees who do not secure an approved exemption by January 31 will be terminated without severance, according to a company official.

“Associates who are unable to receive a vaccine due to a medical reason, sincerely held religious belief, or other exemption provided by state or local law can request an accommodation/exemption,” wrote VF senior director of corporate affairs Colin Wheeler in an email to OBJ today. “If any associate does not have proof of an accommodation by January 1, they will be prevented from accessing our facilities and will be required to work from home, while they consult with their manager on next steps. If by January 31, they have not received an approved accommodation, they will be separated from the company and will not receive severance.”

Wheeler emphasized that the new rule affects only office-based U.S. employees for now. The company plans to roll out the next phase of its vaccine requirements for other U.S. associates in the spring.

“Given differences in local and national regulations, our EMEA [Europe, Middle East, and Africa] and APAC [Asia-Pacific] regions will continue to determine the most effective ways to ensure the health and safety of our associates in those regions,” Wheeler said. “As such, they are not subject to this new requirement.”

So far, employee response to the new regulation has been “relatively quiet,” according to the company. VF said that it hopes the advance notice of the new rule, coupled with transparency at the corporate decision-making level, will give all employees “the opportunity to make plans that are right for them.”

VF declined to specify how many employees are affected by the mandate.

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Story-driven marketing is gaining steam in the outdoor industry.

This month, three outdoor companies鈥擳he North Face, Houdini, and Kari Traa鈥攈ave launched marketing campaigns built around customer storytelling, leveraging the voices of brand loyalists to build both visibility and relatability among consumers.

The North Face: It鈥檚 More than a Jacket

The North Face’s brand campaign for fall, It’s More Than A Jacket, is an “initiative honoring and celebrating the memories and stories of adventure created over [the company’s] more than 55-year history,” according to a LinkedIn post from Mike Ferris, TNF’s vice president of global brand management.

“To capture the meaning behind every piece of gear at the heart of this campaign idea, we will also be launching our first-ever crowdsourced archive, in partnership with the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art,” Ferris wrote. “This new archive will call on our global community to submit stories and images of their own well-loved TNF products to include, stories that will sit alongside stories from our athletes and ambassadors, illustrating how those products inspired them and their curiosity to explore.”

To add some start power to the campaign, The North Face tapped musical artists RZA and Haim, as well as rock climber Conrad Anker and skier Ingrid Backstrom, to be the first contributors to the archive.

To contribute to the official archive and potentially appear in the brand’s partner experiences at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, customers are being asked to post their stories on social media using the hashtag #MoreThanAJacket.

Houdini: The Storyteller

Houdini’s new campaign, called The Storyteller, takes a similar approach to TNF’s, collecting as many customer stories as possible through a hashtag campaign, #WearYourStories. The brand has also selected a curated group of product users鈥攕ome of them Houdini employees鈥攚hose stories are being promoted on the company’s website. Unlike TNF’s campaign, Houdini’s is centered around a single product, the Power Houdi, one of the brand’s flagship jackets.

“This Power Houdi belongs to artist and skier Per 脰hr氓s,” one of the stories on the brand’s website read. “The color stains and welding burns have disqualified it from recreational use, but it keeps Per warm every day in the workshop and will do so for many years to come. The Houdini Power Houdi has been around for almost 20 years and seen countless adventures.”

The campaign is much more sales-oriented than TNF’s, with links to buy Houdini products embedded throughout the campaign’s hub on the Houdini website.

Kari Traa: Girls Will Be Girls

The least sales-oriented of all the campaigns on this list, Kari Traa’s latest effort is more about brand building and making a statement of purpose for the women’s sportswear company.

The stated purpose of the campaign, called Girls Will Be Girls, is to “encourage women to share stories of inequality, and break the rules traditionally associated with being a woman,” according to a company release.

鈥淲e believe that sharing these stories will help drive and escalate change,” said Sissel Himle, director of marketing at Kari Traa North America. “Women all over the world live by completely different rules than men. Our campaign shares stories from real women who have experienced inequality across the outdoor industry.”

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