No matter what temperature, Everest-fit clothes continue to dominate wardrobes in 2021.
Fashion fans don’t care about “how it looks,” but the real question is “what does this jacket do?” Utility trousers and jackets used by mountain climbers are popular with city dwellers.
Extreme outdoor clothing for climbing Everest is the current streetwear trend. This will be a sign that outdoors brands will continue dominating our wardrobes regardless of the weather.
The rise of “gorpcore”, a trend to wear outdoor labels in the city, has made Patagonia fleeces or North Face jackets a fashion staple. Storm-proof hoods, Gore-Tex and frostbite-preventing layers are all essentials for a trip out to the pub, or a stroll around the park.
Browns Fashion calls its high-performance brand collection one of its strongest categories. Joe Brunner, activewear buyer at Browns Fashion, says that fashion and function have become a part of customers’ daily lives. Matchesfashion noted the same interest in sneakers from Salomon, an ex-ski-boot brand, and outerwear from Japanese Snow Peak as its top sellers.
Most in-demand brands include Icelandic 66North and Mammut from Switzerland, which make climbing ropes and then expand into clothing.
Arc’teryx is a Vancouver-based brand that offers mountaineering. The Alpine specialist has been working as a fashion heavyweight thanks to endorsements from rap stars like Lil Yachty or A$AP Rocky. As proof of Arc’teryx’s appeal, the brand has launched a partnership with Jil Sander this month.
It includes jackets, bibbed pants and a one-piece designed for mountain sports. The collection will be a favorite among street-style influencers who attend fashion shows in cold temperatures. The collection has a higher price than Arc’teryx’s main product range, but it is meant to bridge the gap between high-performance clothing and high aesthetic quality.
Lyst, the fashion platform, predicts that J Sander’s collaboration will be the tip of the trend. It cites fashion with “futureminded technology” as its main prediction for next year’s fashion industry.
David Hellqvist is a fashion writer and founder of Document Studios. He also contributes to the New Order magazine, Orienteer Mapazine, and says, “People want their clothes have a purpose.”
Although there is talk of a return in glamour, our love for outdoor-inspired clothing suggests otherwise. Hellqvist says, “We have begun to appreciate open spaces again and beautiful scenery on a different level.” She also adds that “to appreciate the simple things in our lives again. There is clothing that can match that ambition.
