Columns – Page 3
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OpinionFrom Evolution to Revolution – Performance Days 2023
Performance Day’s Functional Fabric Curator Alexa Dehmel and “fabric nerd” Charles Ross present a picture diary and summary of October’s event.
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OpinionOpinion: A recap of EOS 2023 in Berlin
The European Outdoor Summit, the annual gathering of the Outdoor Industry, is the closest thing offered to expand the thinking of the trade – and it does a pretty good job of it. Anyone looking for inspiration from within the market will be in the vicious circle of trying to ...
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OpinionProduct design in the outdoor industry – where to start
Charles Ross’ resume of more than 25 years blends work with outdoor brands, teaching roles on fashion and sportswear design courses at various universities, and his own love of all-things performance fabric related. He is therefore the ideal person to answer the question: How can we improve the future of ...
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OpinionTrade shows: “Sometimes the value cannot be beaten”
After OTS in the UK, Charles Ross still sees value in trade shows. The best bring leadership, collaboration and are moving with the Industry.
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OpinionThe mountain and the metaverse – Synergy or contradiction?
Following our interview with Christoph Engl, the CEO of Oberalp, conducted at the 5th Oberalp Summit, we present a follow-up article by sportswear expert Alexa Dehmel, who looks at the event on the topic of “Metaverse” from a designer’s perspective.
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OpinionWhat makes the perfect industry award jury?
A long-standing member of many award committees in the outdoor industry world, Charles Ross explains what makes a good industry award jury
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OpinionEarth Day: For hippies, greenwashing, or a real opportunity for brands?
With many brands marking the occasion, will Earth Day become just another gimmick? Our expert shares how brands can meaningfully take part.
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OpinionSustainability Reports: Greenwashing, job creating, or doing good?
For those who want to find them, outdoor brands are now producing reports about their impacts. Just like a business has to produce its company accounts on a regular basis to demonstrate that they are operating legitimately, there is now a push for more than just profit-and-loss financial figures. Fortunately, ...
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OpinionOpinion: A Rab solution for the non-perfect world of CSR impact ratings?
Rab (the U.K. outdoor brand owned by Equip Outdoor Technologies) has announced it is introducing an agnostic rating system on its product in the hope that it will persuade others to use something similar so that the public image of the industry is more consistent with what the public wants ...
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OpinionOpinion: DeGrowth is not about the companies – it is the user
A report inspired by both the European Outdoor Summit in Annecy and the Blue Earth Summit in Bristol.
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OpinionSponsorship: Perhaps this is how it can be most effective?
Sponsorship can take place in a wide variety of forms, but should usually pay off in terms of marketing targets. Charles Ross shares what he sees as missed sponsorship opportunities in the Outdoor industry, and which have had unexpected success. He also illustrates that doing the right thing can be all that matters.
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OpinionOpinion: Is it all just Greenwashing? Criticism of sustainability data threatens industry improvement
Last month the Norwegian Consumer Authority (NCA) challenged Norrøna regarding “misleading environmental claims” as a result of the brand’s use of outfacing information from one of the modules included in the Higg Index. The challenge was based on the fact that the Sustainable Apparel Coalition (SAC) had included older data ...
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OpinionOpinion: What place do trade shows have in the future of the Outdoor community?
As the debrief from the re-connection of the industry at OutDoor by ISPO continues, those responsible for the marketing budgets are debating whether the gatherings are still the best investment of resources. For those who did not make it to the Munich Order Center – you missed the energy and ...
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OpinionThe Journey to Carbon Neutrality: The detail of the future for outdoor industry ingredients
Exhibitions need something to get people to turn up in person now that we have all lived in the virtual world of Zoom and Teams; fortunately, the Outdoor Industry is focused on apparel, and there is nothing stronger than getting to handle the garment / see the finish / try ...
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OpinionIs being waterproof the most important part of our apparel?
The outdoor industry has been characterized by the hero product made from Gore-tex (other shell materials are available). Is this really the focus of design thinking that should be championed? One of the great marketing case stories of the last 30 years is that those seeking to equip themselves now ...
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OpinionBlack Friday – is this the guilty secret of fashion, but a wonderful opportunity for the outdoor Industry?
The origin of Black Friday was the clearing of dead stock so that the new product, which would reach premium price in the lead up to Christmas present, had room to be displayed. Every product line is meant to sell out, but nothing ever runs that perfectly. Some lines do ...
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OpinionReview (and general observations) of British OIA AGM
This last week saw the British Outdoor Industry (OIA) have their annual gathering (to go through the financial reporting on their trade body) and bring together their membership – based on the principle that if the trade works together, more can be achieved. It was at the same event in ...
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OpinionOpinion: Sustainability - Have we all got the wrong approach?
There is not a single outdoor brand I know that does not have a sustainability policy – if anything, the term sustainability has been used for such a wide range of applications even I end up confused as to what it really means. There are two common definitions: the ...
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OpinionOpinion: Outdoor by ISPO webinar, co-hosted by the EOG
At the end of last month, there was a webinar about the show in October, which will happen outside the regular buying window for brands selling to retailers. The European Outdoor Group (EOG) had already spoken to their membership and would host up to 100 shell-scheme stands supporting the event. ...
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OpinionOR Summer: Considerably smaller, but an important signal
More than a week ago, the Outdoor Retailer Summer (ORS) wrapped up in Denver, Colorado. Due to Covid-19, the show could not take place in its usual slot, making it too late in the year for many companies and retailers. Still, the show was an important event, as it was ...
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