Announced last week, Patagonia has formed a partnership with Honolulu-based Kinaole Capital Partners and Bank of Hawaii to create a $27 million fund aimed at helping homeowners purchase more than 1,000 rooftop solar energy systems in Hawaii. Working with local solar installation companies and taking advantage of state and federal tax credits, the new fund will accelerate renewable energy infrastructure in the state.
Cotopaxi is the new outdoor company in town and along with selling cool gear directly…
It's official- Bitcoin has navigated its way into the outdoors. Over the weekend, Mountains Plus announced they will be the first outdoor retailer to accept the digital currency as a form of payment. The company hopes this will attract the more tech savvy consumer that is looking to purchase high-tech products like GoPro cameras, cycling trainers, and other expensive gadgets.
Undoubtedly, one of the biggest trends for the FW 12/13 season is water repellent down, available from several outdoor industry manufacturers. Sierra Designs just released their full line of DriDown apparel to match the sleeping bags launched earlier this summer, while competing water repellent down supplier DownTek is showing up in gear from numerous big name outdoor brands such as Big Agnes, Brooks Range, and Mountain Hardwear.
Fashion house Kellwood announced yesterday that their subdivision American Recreation Products has acquired women's performance wear company ISIS. This news coincides with the announcement last week from Poppy Gall, co-founder of ISIS, that she will leave and start her own full service design studio. The details of the ISIS acquisition were undisclosed.
Legendary mountaineer Ed Viesturs has joined the founding team of Source 44, a new sustainability management company based in San Diego. With Ed Viesturs as investor, co-founder and official spokesman, Source 44 is looking to help the outdoor industry, among others, measure and reduce their overall carbon footprint.
