Textile Insight

ne of the Outdoor Retailer trade show's biggest moments this past July was the This Land Is Our Land March for Public Lands, which saw attendees armed with signs stream from the Salt Palace to the State Capitol to show the industry's support for the National Monuments under review by the Trump administration. One year after the National Park Service celebrated its 100th year, visitation and consumer awareness of American public lands is higher than ever. And brands are celebrating the federally-protected wild spaces for Spring '18 with footwear that pays homage to the parks with smart details and sophisticated aesthetics. Chaco launched its first product created in partner- ship with the National Parks Foundation, the charitable arm of the National Park Service, in August of 2016. That first style, which incorporated the NPS's arrowhead logo on the style's web- bing, has grown into a full collection of limited-edition sandals in collaboration with NPF. The current U.S.-made styles for men and women feature unique webbings designed to reflect The Grand Canyon (a swirling coral and turquoise design that calls to mind the sinuous Colorado River) and The Great Smokey Mountains (a multilayered pattern representing morn- ing fog during sunrise over the park). The collection expanded this summer with a rainbow-strapped tribute to the recently- created Stonewall National Monument in time for Pride and a capsule Bears Ears sandal with a purple and orange rendering of the Monument's s i l h o u e t t e , a n d future sandals will take inspiration from the Florida Everglades, Glacier National Park and Redwood National Park. Pendleton has been making blankets with unique weaves for the National Parks for as long as the Parks have been around, so when the Portland, OR-based brand launched footwear for Fall '17 with licensee Waterstone Brands, keeping that connection alive was a no-brainer. The line of durable rubber rain boots for women, available in both tall and shorter chelsea boot heights, feature the park's badge as well as Pendleton's historic stripe patterns and colors for each park, including deep blue with earthy stripes for the deep waters of Crater Lake, warm reds and oranges on black to celebrate sunrise at Acadia National Park (the first park to see sunrise) and deep shades of yellow, blue and red to call to mind the hot springs of Yellowstone on the shaft and body of the boots. For Spring, the collection will expand with $45 three-point sandals for both men and women that puts the iconic stripes on the footbed, and each national park badge on the strapping. For Brooks Running, celebrating national parks was just another way of toasting what runners love — and a chance to outfit their Cascadia trail runner style in some fresh colors. Four new colorways of the $130 style, avail- able at REI, are inspired by Yellowstone (turquoise and orange), Yosemite (blue-green and lime), Great Smokey Mountains National Park (red, burgundy and tangerine) and Washington's own Mt. Rainier National Park (icy blues for the glacier-filled hometown favorite for both REI and Brooks), with badges on each calling out the park. A fifth colorway in navy and forest green is a nod to the uniform of the National Park Service and carries its insignia. O FOOTWEAR | BRAND COLLABORATIONS A Walk– or Run – in the Parks Now Enthusiasts Can Wear their Love for the National Parks on their Feet. By Jennifer Ernst Beaudry O Brands are celebrating the federally- and state- protected wild space for Spring '18 with footwear that pays homage to the parks. Brooks Cascadia 12 Yellowstone National Park trail runner Pendleton boots celebrating Yellowstone National Park Chaco Yosemite High Noon Z/1 sandal textileinsight.com 24 • Textile Insight ~ September / October 2017

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