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Technical Outerwear

hendrix

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I like the idea of extreme functionality. Some of the more innovative brands are starting to build a following and I think it'd be cool to have a thread where we can compare some different ideas.

I've only just started researching this little sect so please contribute. There will be many more knowledgeable people than me.

edit:
Also, it would probably be useful to distinguish between the Osti-related stuff, the regular technical stuff, the Japanese labels stuff and the highly functionnal highly technical but very stealthy stuff although the last two sometimes overlap.


Lists (to be updated). No particular order in regards to value or quality - make that decision yourself.


Regular technical stuff:
outlier, 12th man, 6876, Westcomb, rapha, Arc'teryx normal line, Nau, Aether apparel, Icebreaker, Mountain Hardware, Mission Workshop, Nike and Adidas now have their high-tech partnerships (forget names), lots of bike brands and snow brands

Massimo Osti-related:
CP company, SI, Ma.strum, many, many more.

Japanese
Nanamica, white mountaineering, some undercover, Visvim

Highly technical/functional/stealthy:
acronym, isaora, Arc'teryx Veilance, Arc'teryx LEAF, Herno Laminar, SI Shadow project and some of the more conceptual Osti spinoff stuff.

Some brands and pics:

acronym: seems to rely alot on Gore-tex rather than doing their own fabric research, but some cool design.
URL=http://www.styleforum.net/image/id/1723294/width/350/height/525]
525
[/URL]

Maharishi. Cheaper, slightly more conventional stuff in comparison with acronym. Some terrible embroidery mixed with some really good stuff for a relative bargain.

isaora: Just really great stuff. rooted in the snowboarding scene. Jwied wears their stuff well. It's pricey but cool.

Massimo Osti-related brands:

Stone Island: Quite expensive, often recycling of old Osti ideas, but do occasionally come out with some great stuff. "Shadow Project" is meant to be the more experimental division. Lots of reflective fabrics, bright colours etc.


CP Company: a different feel from Stone Island, seems to be ever so slightly less techy, more about the "wearing in" process. again, quite expensive but still come out with some classics occasionally. It seems that 90s and early 2000s were the real design pinnacles for the brand.


Ma.strum; Kinda more conservative than SI and CP company, and more of a true replica brand - although I don't think they'll ever release any of the real classics like the toggle parka as there's just too much money to be made by CP company in that regard. Again a bit overpriced IMO but on sale worth it. The stuff looks pretty wearable. Keeps in with the SI intense colours and reflective/shiny fabrics and such.
 
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jet

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Where to kop camo cp?
 

gettoasty

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I love this type of stuff but where does one procure the items? SUFU has a long standing thread about this, about time SF has one
 

indesertum

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Outlier is up and coming

http://outlier.cc/

internet only brand like everlane and TOJ. Focus is on men's wear with technical fabrics. Like pants that are waterproof (if you spill coffee on them you can just brush it off) or stretchable sweat wicking pants that you can bike in to get to work but formal enough as workwear so you dont have to change. I think made in the states prolly nyc with swedish tech fabrics
 
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hendrix

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Outlier is up and coming
http://outlier.cc/
internet only brand like everlane and TOJ. Focus is on men's wear with technical fabrics. Like pants that are waterproof (if you spill coffee on them you can just brush it off) or stretchable sweat wicking pants that you can bike in to get to work but formal enough as workwear so you dont have to change. I think made in the states prolly nyc with swedish tech fabrics


cool stuff and good prices
 

sipang

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I don't like Outlier outerwear, I'm sure the functionality is there but there's always some weird detail that's bugging me in the design, trousers are awesome although if find the Climbers a bit too stretchy sometimes (if that's possible), the pockets could be better too, still great though, also nice merino tees. In the bike-oriented market, Mission Workshop also put out a pretty subdued jacket w/ taped seams and schoeller c_change tech last year.

SI has some great stuff, not sure the hooligans are the ones driving the auctions up but it seems to have quite a following and some models are particularily sought-after.


Veilance is the other big one next to Acronym.
 
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hendrix

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I love this type of stuff but where does one procure the items? SUFU has a long standing thread about this, about time SF has one


I mainly see this type of stuff on UK based webstores. Oki-ni has SI shadow project, Isaora. Endclothing has CP company, shadow project, Fjällräven, Ma.strum. oipolloi has some of the stuff. etc etc.
I don't like Outlier outerwear, I'm sure the functionality is there but there's always some weird detail that's bugging me in the design, trousers are awesome although if find the Climbers a bit too stretchy sometimes (if that's possible), the pockets could be better too, still great though, also nice merino tees. In the bike-oriented market, Mission Workshop also put out a pretty subdued jacket w/ taped seams and schoeller c_change tech last year.
SI has some great stuff, not sure the hooligans are the ones driving the auctions up but it seem to have quite a following and some models are particularily sought-after.
Veilance is the other big one next to Acronym.


Good info thanks. Yeah it's probably people nerding out and hoarding the Osti stuff that drives up the price. It's certainly a genre in which you could get all selvedge-left-hand-riveted-chain-masturbated about.
 
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sipang

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Here you go, Urban techwear, tbh I always thought a SF thread would be pretty redundant given the quality of the sufu thread but apparently I was wrong to assume everyone reads sufu... The more the merrier I guess.



Good info thanks. Yeah it's probably people nerding out and hoarding the Osti stuff that drives up the price. It's certainly a genre in which you could get all selvedge-left-hand-riveted-chain-masturbated about.



Have I told you about the beauty of micro seam allowances, watertight zippers, laminated primaloft ?


Also, it would probably be useful to distinguish between Osti-related stuff, regular technical stuff, Japanese labels stuff and highly functionnal highly technical but very stealthy stuff although the last two sometimes overlap.
 
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hendrix

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other brands i've vaguely heard of:

12th man: seem to be rooted in the football scene, but made in italy out of organic whatever whatever. Potentially nice but a bit underdesigned. Love this colour.



6876: not to be confused with 6786, the gene for a membrane protein that brings in calcium after depletion...sorry. Um, again pretty simple styling.
 

hendrix

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Have I told you about the beauty of micro seam allowances, watertight zippers, laminated primaloft ?
Also, it would probably be useful to distinguish between the Osti-related stuff, the regular technical stuff, the Japanese labels stuff and the highly functionnal highly technical but very stealthy stuff although the last two sometimes overlap.


indeed. I'll add this to the OP.

it would be good to get a bit of nerd up in here.
 

sipang

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:nodding: also Arc Veilance should go with Acronym (and maybe SI shadow project and probably a notch above Isaora), the Arc'teryx LEAF stuff could also go up there there


regular Arc would go with regular stuff, you can also add Westcomb to that category, the Nike items are part of the NSW line unless you're talking about the Gyakusou stuff


Visvim should go with the other Japanese stuff, pretty sure all WM outerwear qualify. Final Home would also theoretically go there, it's definitely not on the same level technically (mostly regular nylon and treated cotton) but they've sort of pioneered the urban nomad thing.
 
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