Outdoor Insight

outdoorinsightmag.com MATERIALS Laid-back comfort is the word for Fall '19, with soft, snuggly looks proliferating. Vintage fabrications, in particular Sherpa, corduroy and handcrafted sweaters, are re- emerging in a variety of looks slated for the season ahead. By Suzanne Blecher Cozy Comebacks C oncept III Founder David Parkes saw his first Sherpa in 1963. He started his career at pile and faux fur maker Borg in the UK before crossing the pond to Malden Mills in 1976 to develop and merchan- dise the fabric (along with other sliver knits). At the time, "the demand was super-high and the margins were super-high" for Sherpa, he says. In the 1980s, the fabric took a backseat to polar fleece, only to have started gaining more traction over the last two to three years. "I think Sherpa is having a resurgence because the sliver knit machine is extremely versatile," explains Parkes, adding, "It can offer many different fabrications because you are dictating to each stitch which fiber type will be blown into it." Sherpa, or faux shearling, is either 100 percent polyester or a blend of polyester and acrylic. Wool can also be introduced into the mix. As the yarn forms a jersey stitch, fiber is blown into the stitch to present a high pile fabric. It is a very practical fabric and hard wearing, with abrasion resistance and a good warmth value. Toad&Co's Sherpa reinterpretation takes on a 1970s campy, feel-good vibe. "It's a look back to simpler times that align with the free spirit of getting out and experiencing life on the trail under the open sky," says Kyle Boettcher, VP–design/merchandising/supply. The Telluride Sherpa Jacket mixes fashion and outdoor in a reversible number January 2019 • Outdoor Insight • 23 Retro Returns with Modern Appeal Toad&Co's Telluride Sherpa Jacket, Indigo Flannel LS Shirt, Primo SS Crew and Five-Pocket Mission Ridge Pant.

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