L.L.Bean and the American Skiing Company recently announced their new outerwear partnership. Beginning this fall, L.L.Bean will be the official outerwear supplier to leading ski resorts including Steamboat, The Canyons, Killington and Sunday River. As part of the agreement, L.L.Bean's top product developers and designers are working in conjunction with experts from the ASC staff to develop a complete outerwear system for all on-snow resort employees.
“We got together with several top instructors, lift operators, and ski patrol personnel from ASC resorts and asked what they would like to see in the ultimate on-mountain uniform. Then we hit the design room with some really great ideas. We knew we wanted something that was waterproof/breathable, warm, easy to move in, and looked great regardless of whether you ski or snowboard. Then we added the bells and whistles, like a built-in neoprene lumbar pad for warmth and protection, cell phone/radio pocket, and that's just for starters,” says Greg Houser, V.P. and merchandising manager for L.L.Bean outerwear. “We are also planning to make a version of this outerwear available to our customers this fall as part of our new Gore-Tex/Primaloft Mountain Pro Series.”
ASC chose L.L.Bean as an outerwear partner for several reasons, according to Chip Carey, senior vice-president of sales and marketing for American Skiing Company. “We were looking to partner with an organization that clearly mirrored the brand attributes of our resorts and our long-term goals. L.L.Bean has a reputation for high quality gear and great customer service, so we can certainly trust them to keep our staff warm and dry on the slopes.”
