Outdoor clothing brands bring new styles and ideas to the table for 2019

Outdoor clothing brands bring new styles and ideas to the table for 2019

(Cara MacDonald, KSL.com)


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DENVER — Many companies at the Outdoor Retailer Summer Market have been launching new clothing lines to accommodate different needs and backgrounds. Here are a few innovative clothing companies venturing into different spaces in outdoor fashion and textile development.

Roamers

“Roamers is a product for life on the road,” Michael McFadden, Roamers spokesman, told KSL.com. “We are an organic and sustainable workwear and fashion line.”

The company has an established color palette and brings different items for each season, according to McFadden. Currently, they focus on wovens, pants, coveralls and jackets optimized for working outside but made sustainably.

Roamers booth at Outdoor Retailer; Cara MacDonald, KSL.com
Roamers booth at Outdoor Retailer; Cara MacDonald, KSL.com

“At this show — and we’ve been here for three seasons — the organic and sustainability aspect of it seems to be resonating stronger than ever,” McFadden said. “We’ve got timeless, classic trucker jackets, work coats, good work pants and great quality. The whole line is sustainable.”

Roamers prides itself on being extremely durable, so in addition to being sourced from sustainable materials, they seek to diminish the need to replace clothing all the time. McFadden said that in a world where people often have to choose between outdoor performance and style, Roamers is the functional fashion choice between the two.

Roamers booth at Outdoor Retailer; Cara MacDonald, KSL.com
Roamers booth at Outdoor Retailer; Cara MacDonald, KSL.com

“They are made for travel, and because they are all organic cotton you don’t have to dry clean them,” McFadden added. “They can be washed, tumble dried and they are ready to go.”

Featured item:Hillcroft Jacket for $125

Amundsen

“We are small Norwegian company,” Fabian Lovenskiole, spokesman for Amundsen, said. “We are mostly famous for winter clothing, but we are branching into summer clothing this year. We have lots of shorts with a mix of cotton and corduroy for both males and females. Most of our shorts are between 3 and 5 inches. We also have a lot of different shirts — linen and cotton.”

Amundsen booth at Outdoor Retailer; Cara MacDonald, KSL.com
Amundsen booth at Outdoor Retailer; Cara MacDonald, KSL.com

All of the products except for those made from marine wool (which can only be sourced from Australia) have been manufactured in Western Europe, according to Lovenskiole. The company is named for Roald Amundsen, a Norwegian explorer who was the first person to reach the South Pole.

“We’re focusing a lot on history,” Lovenskiole said. “We focus on tradition and creating a style that’s not just for one year. You can keep things fresh and stylish for longer.”

Amundsen booth at Outdoor Retailer; Cara MacDonald, KSL.com
Amundsen booth at Outdoor Retailer; Cara MacDonald, KSL.com

In addition to their historical lean, Amundsen strives to be different through creating unique products, according to Lovenskiole. They have kept the Norwegian and Scandinavian tradition, but they have departed slightly to create a look they haven’t seen done before.

Featured item:Men’s Field Slacks for $269

Amundsen booth at Outdoor Retailer; Cara MacDonald, KSL.com
Amundsen booth at Outdoor Retailer; Cara MacDonald, KSL.com

Saola

“We launched Saola last year, and it is a sustainable footwear line,” Guillaume Linossier, Saola spokesman, told KSL.com. “We strive for sustainable manufacturing and we give back to some wildlife organizations.”

Saola booth at Outdoor Retailer; Cara MacDonald, KSL.com
Saola booth at Outdoor Retailer; Cara MacDonald, KSL.com

Linossier pointed out that not many footwear companies are trying to change the way shoes are currently made, which is surprising given that textiles and footwear are the second most polluting industry in existence.

“We are focusing on materials first,” Linossier said. “All our shoes are made from recycled plastic bottles, so we use between four and five plastic bottles per pair of shoes. We are also using innovative materials for the midsoles.”

Saola booth at Outdoor Retailer; Cara MacDonald, KSL.com
Saola booth at Outdoor Retailer; Cara MacDonald, KSL.com

Saola uses algae-based foam to create insoles and outsoles in their shoes, according to Linossier. They are working with a supplier that cleans lakes and removes invasive species of algae. That supplier then dries up the algae and turns it into a powder. Saola mixes the powder to create a usable foam.

Linossier added that, style-wise, they are trying to create a functional shoe that still looks nice as a lifestyle apparel item.

Featured item:Semnoz II Rose Gold for $99.95

Saola booth at Outdoor Retailer; Cara MacDonald, KSL.com
Saola booth at Outdoor Retailer; Cara MacDonald, KSL.com

Vuori

“We take a new perspective on performance apparel,” Brian Carlin, Vuori spokesman, said about his brand. “We have clothing that’s meant to be worn by those living an active life.”

Vuori booth at Outdoor Retailer; Cara MacDonald, KSL.com
Vuori booth at Outdoor Retailer; Cara MacDonald, KSL.com

Vuori started as primarily a men’s brand, but they’ve expanded in the past couple of years to make clothing for women as well. Their clothes are optimized for pretty much anything fitness — from rock climbing to yoga and pilates.

“And maybe you want to look a little sharp in a collared shirt,” Carlin said. “You want something that lets your body breathe, wicks moisture, doesn’t stink, doesn’t leave sweaty residue or have that typical shine that those traditional brands offer.”

Vuori booth at Outdoor Retailer; Cara MacDonald, KSL.com
Vuori booth at Outdoor Retailer; Cara MacDonald, KSL.com

Carlin also noted that Vuori departs from other, traditional athletic brands by creating a healthy, active and beachy style rather than focusing on urban and street culture.

Vuori’s 2019 line has released more clothes for the active commuter. “If you’re a bike master and commute to work via bike,” Carlin gave as an example, “we have clothing so you can look sharp in the office but also have something that stretches, performs and won’t hold you back.”

Featured item:Performance Jogger for $84

Vuori booth at Outdoor Retailer; Cara MacDonald, KSL.com
Vuori booth at Outdoor Retailer; Cara MacDonald, KSL.com

Know of other outdoor clothing retailers changing the landscape of recreation styles? Comment them below.

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Cara MacDonald enjoys both engaging in outdoor recreation and writing about it. Born and raised in Utah, Cara enjoys skiing, rock climbing, hiking and camping. She is passionate about both learning about and experiencing the outdoors, and helping others to learn about and explore nature. She primarily writes Outdoors articles centering around wildlife and nature, highlighting adventure opportunities, and sharing tips and tricks for outdoor recreation.

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