Moving From the Slopes to the Street
686 Clothing Co., the snowboard line known for its technical and innovative outerwear, has taken the outdoors to the streetwear level by creating a premium sportswear and high-fashion lifestyle line.
The line, launched in December 2004, carries on the tradition of high-quality, innovative clothing that the company has been known for since its founding in 1992 by parent company Westlife Distribution USA LLC.
According to President and Creative Director Michael Akira West, the line will target the snowboard lifestyle. “We wanted to create a sportswear line that made sense for our existing customers as well as expanding to others,” he said.
“We’ve never been the traditional outerwear company,” he continued. “We’ve always incorporated streetwear into outerwear. So, we decided to make the transition into streetwear.”
The Fall line, inspired by urban and artistic principles, combines an English highstyle look with an outdoor sensibility. The outerwear fabrics are geared toward function, West explained. One key piece, the English hybrid blazer, incorporates nylon snowboard- style sleeves into a traditional wool blazer body. Other details include outerwear zippers, patchwork and zip-out sweat shirts, and functional liners that utilize 686’s trademarked Smarty technology, which originated with detachable wearable liners in snow pants and jackets.
The line is stylish and casual yet geared for performance, with pieces such as thermal knit tops that can be used on and off the slopes. The collection includes a variety of specialty jackets and blazers, vintage denim, knit and woven tops, sweaters, premium fleece, logo tees, and accessories such as hats and tool belts.
A “Luxe” line features premium sportswear pieces, including cashmere hoodies and woven shirts with Frenchcuff details, and an “After- Ride” line consists of leather down coats, bomber jackets and nylon parkas.
For more information, call (949) 699-6868, or go to www.686.com.
—N. Jayne Seward
