686 Technical Apparel, the maker of snowboard apparel, announced multiple unique collaborations for the Winter 2015/16 season. The collections will include design alliances with ’47 Brand, Specialized, Nikwax Waterproofing, the legendary Terry Kidwell and Matix Clothing. Each collaboration will be officially unveiled at the 2015 SIA and ISPO tradeshows.
To satisfy snowboarders who want to represent their favorite NCAA teams on and off the hill, 686 joins forces with ’47 brand, creating capsule collections featuring the logos and marks of 14 universities and colleges across the U.S. Each 686 x ’47 Brand capsule will include the new waterproof 686 Victory jacket, an insulator jacket based on 686 GLCR design, facemasks, hats and streetwear designed with a progressive take on classic sportswear inspiration. Teams included in the 686 x ’47 Brand collection include the Michigan Wolverines, Colorado Buffalos, Cal Bears, Boston University Terriers, Nebraska Cornhuskers, University of Vermont Catamounts, Brigham Young University Cougars, Wisconsin Badgers, Penn State Nittany Lions, Yale Bulldogs, Harvard Crimson and Dartmouth Big Green. Each school’s team colors will act as the focal point of the collection, complimented by 686’s unique design aesthetics. Each capsule will be available in limited edition at select retailers.
With the increased popularity of fat tire bikes hitting the trails in wintery conditions, it only makes sense that Specialized Bicycles, a clear innovator in cycling, is joining forces with 686 have to create the ultimate collection of rider-focused technical winter apparel for fat bike riders, the new off-road cycling pioneers. The Specialized x 686 collaboration will incorporate 686’s All Weather Technologies into a 3-ply technical shell jacket, a warm, waterproof insulator jacket and bib overall pants, with separate designs and sizing for both men and women. 686 and Specialized have also collaborated to create unique Specialized men’s and women’s fat bikes with graphics designed by 686. This collection is available only through authorized Specialized reps and dealers.
To support the message that all 686 technical outerwear made from its exclusive infiDRY® fabric is durable and 100% washable, a package of Nikwax Tech Wash will be attached to all 686 GLCR collection outerwear jackets and pants for the 2015/16 season. This Nikwax Tech Wash will effectively refresh the appearance and performance of all of 686’s infiDRY fabric. Owners of 686 technical outerwear can be confident that their investment in 686 will stand up to the elements and laundry when washed throughout the season using Nikwax Tech Wash.
The SIA and ISPO shows also represent the launch of 686’s “Inspired By:” series a continuing succession of collaborations with unique individuals who have inspired 686 founder and current president, Michael Akira West. For the first “Inspired By:” release, 686 went back to the roots of snowboarding and asked snowboarding legend and the father of freestyle, Terry Kidwell, to guest design a jacket and pant combination. The end result is a design that harkens back to snowboarding’s infancy, when style truly mattered more than the amount corks, but with modern technical updates .
“Style in skateboarding and snowboarding is what first inspired me to start 686 in 1992. In snowboarding there were only a few riders I really looked up to and Kidwell was one of them. As a skateboarder, I related to TK's freestyle vibe and tried to emulate how he took tricks directly from skateboarding to the snow for the first time,” explained West. “I could not be more psyched to have Kidwell as our first collaborator for the ‘Inspired By:’ series.”
In line with West’s skateboard roots, 686 All Weather Technologies will also be incorporated into select jackets in Matix Clothing’s 2015 fall and winter collections. Matix will use 686 infiDRY fabrics and DWR coatings on three jackets, all available through Matix Clothing representatives.
