Arc’teryx Equipment announced that Nicole McLaughlin was appointed its first design ambassador, joining its athletes, climbers and thought leaders. The multi-year partnership, which came from shared roots in rock climbing and goals for more sustainable design, aims to change the consumer’s perception of what can be done with waste materials and the conversation of circularity in manufacturing.
Arc’teryx will support McLaughlin’s vision by providing resources and opportunities to showcase her work in sustainability in manufacturing. “As a climber and designer, I’m excited to partner with Arc’teryx,” said McLaughlin. “I’m looking forward to shared learnings and connecting our communities so that together we can amplify the value of circularity, including repurposing garments to keep waste out of landfills.”
“We’re thrilled to welcome Nicole to the Arc’teryx team,” said Jurgen Watts, director, Brand Experience. “We look forward to helping her share her passion for upcycling as we grow and evolve our initiatives in circularity and increasingly offer our guests more sustainable choices.”
McLaughlin will host a series of workshops and guest-facing Arc’teryx Academy events through the course of its partnership starting with design and upcycling workshops in NYC this Fall. The customer-facing events will offer hands-on opportunities to create something from the customer’s own waste materials and engaging them in the process toward a more circular garment industry.
McLaughlin created two designs from upcycled materials to mark the partnership with Arc’teryx:
Arc Cart created with two used Bora 62 backpacks and a used cruiser cart found on eBay. “Based on the concept of making something to help navigate the outdoors. I’m a huge fan of Bora backpacks and their utilitarian quality, but also their durability. Once I settled on the idea of a rugged cart, I decided to make something that would not only help you take your climbing gear (ropes, harnesses, water bottles, snacks, crash pads, etc.) to the crag, but also create an extra element of functionality. It’s everything you need, rolled up into one,” said McLaughlin.
Mini Tent using Arc’teryx Gore-Tex scraps, strike-off patch logos and a used mini display tent found online. “I love mini and oversized things. I received a box of Arc’teryx Gore-Tex scraps, and I knew that I wanted to do a mini waterproof tent. It’s an exploration of utilizing Gore-Tex cut-offs of all sizes in miniature proportions that have the potential to be scaled in a life-sized way for outdoor usage,” said McLaughlin.
Photo courtesy Arc’teryx
