Textile Insight

I t seems like everyone I've talked to recently is traveling to Lisbon, or Paris, or Costa Rica or Senegal, looking to escape aer being hunkered down at home for too long – concerns surrounding Covid variants, nightmare airline scenarios and raging price increases be damned. I, however, recently opted for the road less traveled; a car ride to Millerton, NY by way of Poughkeepsie. Here are a couple of snapshot takeaways from my jaunt upstate: e Over the Hudson Walkway, along the FDR Mid-Hudson Bridge, affords terrific views of this mighty waterway and surrounding backdrop of hills, as well as a keen perspective on today's active "out- siders." My trendspotting revealed that Hokas are the "it" shoe, regardless of age, gender or level of fitness. Other than that, anything goes. Nothing resembling a conventional "outdoor" uniform featured. Granted this experience is more of a walk than a trek, but the bridge does connect to a state park with trails. Our cover story explores this transformation from "outdoor" to "outside." Execs from brands and fabric suppliers offer opinions and observations on how and why this change is occurring and the important influence of performance materials in today's evolving marketplace. e Westerlind store, opened in Millerton a year ago, hits the bullseye on today's wardrobe trend. Andrea Westerlind, who many of you know as a forward-thinker in the outdoor arena, having intro- duced brands such as Fjällräven to the U.S. market years ago; co-founded the shop on the main drag in the small Hudson Valley town. e design of the store, complete with home goods and food pantry, is spot on in terms of up-to-the-minute style mixed with state-of-the-art functionality. Helly Hansen, Carhartt, Gramicci and Birkenstock are just a few of the brands beautifully curated and merchandised to inspire outdoor adventure in contemporary fashion. I know traveling 90 minutes northwest on the Interstate pales in comparison to flying off to far- flung lands. But these days if the destination takes you outside, then you're headed in the right direction. Cheers, A WalkWay to a New Outdoors Granted this experience is more of a walk than a trek, but the bridge does connect to a state park with trails. TEXTILE TALK / EMILY WALZER 4 • Textile Insight ~ July/August 2022 textileinsight.com Every day, we work alongside the world's leading mills to design, develop, and deliver the most sustainable performance textiles for modern lifestyle brands. Sourcing sophisticated textiles for casual apparel.

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