The new skiwear brands that can be worn in the city and on the slopes
- Away from Moncler and Canada Goose, a host of smaller brands specialising in outerwear are aiming at a new fashion-savvy audience
- Perfect Moment, for example, features jackets covered in rainbow stripes, while Ienki Ienki’s metallic puffers are a favourite with street-style stars
When Demna Gvasalia sent out a stylish red puffer jacket worn off-the-shoulders on the Balenciaga autumn-winter 2016 runway, he gave this once-boring skiwear essential a new lease of life.
Since then the padded jacket has become a fashion essential, appearing on the catwalks of a number of major designers and brands.
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While established brands such as Moncler and Canada Goose that already offered skiwear have benefited from the trend, the market has seen a host of smaller brands come into the spotlight. Most of them specialise in outerwear, for skiing or otherwise, and are aimed at a new fashion-savvy audience.
“As experiences have become increasingly important in customers’ lives, so has travel and adventure,” says Elizabeth von der Goltz, global buying director at Net-a-Porter. “For instance, being up in the mountains in the snow isn’t just for skiers but for people looking for new experiences too. With this in mind, looking great on the slopes is just as important as your holiday. This is why the design for new outerwear brands focuses not just on the technical side but also style.”
What sets these newcomers apart from established players is their strong focus on fashion – think new silhouettes, vibrant colour palettes and details.
Perfect Moment, for example, features jackets covered in rainbow stripes, while Ienki Ienki offers metallic puffers that have become a favourite with street-style stars. Then you have newcomer Shoreditch Ski Club, whose architectural cuts are inspired by the hip London district it is named after as well as the city’s punk scene.
“I think brands are understanding that women’s fashion can extend to sports and outerwear as well,” says Chelsea Power, a buyer at matchesfashion.com. “In terms of trends, we are seeing a nod to ’80s nostalgia – think Princess Diana in paparazzi shots of her on holiday. Rainbows and tie dye are popular, and we have seen a rise in sales for all-in-one styles – they look so chic but are also functional and practical.”
As well as highlighting performance – important for any sort of cold-weather outerwear – some of these brands are even offering socially responsible designs, such as Erin Snow and Shoreditch Ski Club.
“I wanted to engineer a new brand proposition that married these apparently disparate ideas of eco-sensitive conscious product with great functionality, attitude and energy of punk,” says Wil Beedle, founder of Shoreditch Ski Club.
“Everything we do has a sliding scale of functionality – think of it as performance wear made for the city and worn on slopes instead of vice versa.
“Our nylons are made from recycled plastic bottles and we use recycled cashmere and yarns. Our Icelandic shearling is also ethically sourced. Being [eco-] conscious is a fundamental now for any brand.”
Five outerwear brands that should be on your radar
Erin Snow
Founded in 2003 by Erin Isakov, Erin Snow offers vintage-inspired styles designed not only with performance in mind, but also the environment. Its technical materials, which include recycled nylon from fishnets and regenerated polyester, are ethically sourced, chemical-free and produced in facilities that comply with the company’s standard of ethics.
Available at net-a-porter.com
Fusalp
Founded in 1952, this French brand made its name when it launched its now iconic stirrup pants and it continues to dress ski champions. A few years ago it made a comeback (it was even carried by hip French boutique Colette) thanks to its elegant yet sporty designs. Its current collections are designed by Mathilde Lacoste and feature retro-futuristic designs including ski suits.
Available at matchesfashion.com
Ienki Ienki
This Ukrainian brand was only launched three years ago by Kiev-based Dmitriy Ievenko, but it has already been spotted on style icons like Bella Hadid and Julianne Moore. The brand really distinguishes itself with its shapes including The Michlin, based on the Michelin Man, which features a rounded hourglass shape.
It recently launched an exclusive capsule collection featuring futuristic metallic colours at Lane Crawford.
Available at lanecrawford.com
Perfect Moment
Perfect Moment was founded by extreme sports lover and documentary-maker Thierry Donard. The Chamonix-based brand highlights performance and is also known for its vibrant colours inspired by the Northern Lights, which have made it an Instagram favourite. The current collection features rainbow belts and inserts on jackets as well as colourful star patterns.
Available at matchesfashion.com
Shoreditch Ski Club
Long-time All Saints chief creative director Wil Beedle launched Shoreditch Ski Club last year to much fanfare. Inspired by various facets of London style, the brand’s voluminous and sculptural silhouettes come with plenty of attitude and cool details such as bondage straps, D-rings and harnesses.
Stylish eco-warriors will also love the fact that the brand only uses sustainable and recycled fabrics and yarns that are free of chemicals, pesticides and synthetic fertilisers.
Available at selfridges.com
