OUTDOOR RETAILER MARKET-SLC-UTAH
Words, Judith Ecochard
Images From Indigenous and J. Ecochard
July 22, 2009
We tend to get into the tech/durable/sporty mindset at OR…but there are a few clothing lines that are very feminine, and can fit the outdoors market needs of functional comfort…
We sometimes see these collections at the contemporary womenswear trade shows we attend.
Indigenous is one of those multi-use labels that can straddle the urban and rugged environs.
We always look forward to time spent with Matt Reynolds, the co-founder and Prez of this terrific company.
Fifteen years old, Indigenous was a forerunner in the garment industry, with a “Slow” approach to sourcing yarns/materials, and using small cottage industries in remote, impoverished areas (like Chile, Peru) to weave textiles and sew/knit/crochet the apparel. The sustainability MO has always been there from day one too…with natural fabrics like organic cottons, native alpaca wools, Tencel--- and low impact dyes (Azo-dioxin free) used to conjure up really want to wear it modern classic collections, season after season.
It inspiring to us that this year has been “wonderful,” according to Reynolds. And for S/S 2010 there are some great trends that caught our eyes.
As in the super thin, delicate fine knits (made with the same organic/fair trade standards), a lovely collection of organic jerseys and cotton tees with vintagy, girly flourishes like ruffles,
and an amazing collection of hand crocheted lacey sweaters where the workmanship is staggering.
Variety is another ‘theme.’ First out was a reversible Mélange cardigan ($150) and Melange Hoody ($150), “the ultimate travel pieces.”
There is a double layered, cowl neck sweater that we can see stashing in our beach bag as well as working as the coverup for over A/C-ed offices.
“Textures are in,” and Indigenous artisan knitting communities produce finely crafted boyfriend/grandpa sweaters and from the Urban Legends Collection, a Tencel/Organic Cotton hooded “Goddess” Serape ($149) that can be worn every which way.
The incredibly sheer, ultra thin yarn, “creating a barely textured feel,” is nicely mixed in with Indigenous’ signature crocheted/ folkloric details through out.
And we loved the color palette too…navy, lavender, sea grass and warm tones in the “safari” spirit---white, gray, khaki.
With the terrific Fall Collection already widely available, we feel this Spring Collection (ships early winter) will do just as well with retailers, and women who embrace the Indigenous style and story.
