Worth over $6.9 billion in the US alone in 2013, outdoor apparel has been one of the success stories of the international clothing industry in recent times. Drawn by the sector’s growing impact on fashion, mainstream brands such as Armani have introduced active styles – body warmers, working boots, fleece tops – into their collections. Meanwhile, specialist brands such as Klättermusen, Páramo and North Face have brought their expertise to bear to stay ahead of the game with new lines of outdoor clothing that bring function and fashion into ever closer harmony.
Light, fresh fabrics and clean lines
No surprise, then, that 2014’s Outdoor trade show in Friedrichshafen was a-buzz with new trends and innovations for 2015. These included fabrics with improved strength, non-fading colours and eco credentials, with yarns featuring high performance materials such as Kevlar. Meanwhile, fresh approaches to cut and construction promise to deliver slim, tidy silhouettes that make the rugged, weatherproof kit of yesterday look decidedly bulky.
When it comes to outdoors wear for the city dweller, fleeces, chinos and cargo pants are set to be a growing trend, with neutral tones and patterns inspired by nature. For hiking, casual, comfortable and colourful are the watchwords, with shades of plum and berry red popular for women. Meanwhile, in trail running, the emphasis is on lightweight fabrics that allow plenty of stretch for ease of movement, plus lots of air circulation for maximum “moisture wicking” (the movement of perspiration off the skin and out through the garment).
Brand Focus
engelbert strauss Ltd. has been a leading outdoors wear and work wear brand for three generations, and their recent products show them on top of the new trends and developments. Their Asterope shoe, for instance, delivers the comfort and style customers expect of a general-purpose, all-day trainer. It has a breathable mesh upper, a non-slip sole and it comes in a range of eyecatching two-tone hues. Likewise, their softshell e.s. motion ladies’ jacket meets the demand for a practical but figure-flattering top with its lightweight dryplexx fabrication and its sophisticated palette of warm greys.
For men, e.s. roughtough shorts offer durability with a hard-wearing cotton/nylon mix, while the brand’s range of breathable polo shirts and T-shirts made from cotton with an inner layer of polyester can be relied upon to stay crisp, unwrinkled and airy fresh throughout the working day.
To sum up, for anyone who hasn’t updated their outdoors gear for a while, this is certainly a good time to do it.
