Developing game-changing outerwear on a Silicon Valley start-up timeline was super exciting. The MegaWarm brief was to top competitor brand CLO ratings using the Stanford technology the brand was based on. The ultra lightweight (with 9+ CLO), minimalist styling and full feature set of the MegaWarm was a great accomplishment for team. While the future of LifeLabs is uncertain, I’m proud of what the Product Team and I accomplished together.

Recycled materials were spec’d as often as the right item could be found: Shell and lining, zippers, pullers, etc.

X-Factor: My intention for the piece was to create the most epic warmth and style experience possible for the user. Walking to the train in Chicago in 0° or working at McMurdo Station, this is a serious piece of equipment that is impossibly for warm for its weight.

Partnering with Jeremy to launch his apparel collection was an awesome adventure. In both reconnecting with an old friend -from my earliest snowboarding days- and working with a modern snowboarding legend, it was engaging and fun. We conceptualized the Jones apparel ethos and designed/developed the first handful of garments together (with ace developer Chris Westen). One example of the system, is the Mountain Surf bib, a simple, lightweight statement in frontside or light backcountry riding. Everything you need and nothing extra, keeping them lightweight and highly functional.

Reinventing a denim jacket should not be entered into lightly. Making a classic like this work for the Triple Aught Design community took some deliberate thought and considered design. He carries more kit. He needs it secure. He might be on foot or on a motorcycle. For Interval, we took all of that into consideration. Fit is exceptional and four zipped pockets -two with pocket org panels- keep small articles secure.

X-factor: Different from traditional denim jackets, this stand-up collar -with throat latch- provides various closure options.

Shop: Interval Jacket

Making technical product in the US is different than doing it overseas. Things we take for granted (intricate seam work for articulation, pocketing, etc) can be a big ask stateside. In designing Talisman, we pushed local limits. Modern proportions and linework lead to modern pocketing and closure solutions. This is not your Dad’s waxed cotton jacket ;)

X-factor: Classical waxed jackets don’t account for an unforeseen downpour. We added an adjustable, lightweight Ventile hood into the collar for just that event.

Shop: Talisman Jacket

The trench coat…but stretch 20k/20k with sleek lines, smart pocketing, and a solidly Spyder trim suite. The Beacon was the top of the Spyder GT pyramid for protection from the elements and guaranteed good taste in a modern world.

X-factor: Trench coats never have venting. Beacon does and -despite all that breathability- it’s great to be able to jump on the train and vent without breaking your silhouette by opening center front.

Engineered to look like your favorite moto jacket, but in mountaineering-grade materials, Kompressor was in a class of its own. We knew it was over the top. We knew it was not for everyone, but Kompressor brough two worlds together in a fun new way for a customer who liked to be visible.

X-factor: The ethereal lightweight was the wow factor, but quilting that followed musculature -and brought some Ironman factor to bear- was fun too.

For tip of the spear luxury ski in Europe, we presented the Icon Jacket. Waterproof faux leather paired with the best 30k/30k stretch goods of the period, this jacket had an exclusive air about it. Dense with discovery elements, it almost required a manual :)

X-factor: The interior closed the deal for prospective buyers. The flash of sublimated graphics, paired with multiple strategically-placed textures of mesh, ultrasuede, and debossed stretch lining could be likened to climbing into a sports car. Truly an experience and, a bit like a Bugatti Veyron, likely the last of its kind.

Spyder holds a specific place in the market. Driven by European flash, the brand is not shy about high-visibility design paired with great technology. And the Legend collection exemplifies that approach.

The Pinnacle Jacket is the best in the offering. Tier-one features, fabric, and fit, the Pinnacle was always considered the Ferrari of the Spyder offering (and appealed to similar customers, actually). This is the style that the rest of the Alpine offering has been fueled by for decades and the pressure to one-up it every season was high. The whole team was proud of this one.

X-factor: Surface Bemis elements had grown tired, so I sought something else to grab the eye at retail. Inspired by looking into the face of complex timepieces, the “depth” concept sandwiched thin closed-cell foam between layers of shell for a textural reveal. Fun stuff.

Spyder’s lifestyle product was nearly as big a story as the technical side and we were always driving differentiation in a saturated market. Beautiful Schoeller wool goods paired with blown insulation and a sleek fit, made this style super desirable and easy to wear.

X-factor: This is a cop-out answer, but you seriously have to try this style on to understand. The whole experience of the goods, the fill, and the fit is what makes it great.

RLX provided me with carte blanche to create super rich product across multiple platforms (ski, nautical, training, outdoor, and lifestyle). Conjuring 1930’s motor-racing images with a modern twist, we combined “traditional weatherwear” vulcanized cotton with custom leather trim and intricate articulation in the Contact Car Coat.

Elaborately trimmed and still very light and easy to wear, this style punctuated the offering with epic performance and looks.

X-factor: That stand-up collar and throat latch come in handy when it’s pouring in NYC or windy in Seoul. Contact is a head-turner.

Getting Ralph’s attention is a fun challenge and the Engage Down Jacket succeeded in that. Inspired by future arctic exploration, the Engage was strikingly designed and intended for high-visibility at the resort (and the stores). Dual shell fabrics for a balance of lightweight and durability, custom trim throughout, and punctuated with graphics, Engage was fun.

The secret to an epic Ralph Lauren product/showroom/store is a rich mix of silhouette, material, and color. For Fall ‘04, we ran a luxury ski concept that focused on Olive, Cream, and Brown leather. The Mountain Parka captured the moment beautifully. Cotton Ventile shell goods, dense Italian lining goods, and 600 fill power down was a luxurious fabric story. Leather pulls, real Coyote fur (before Polo changed over to faux), and metal zipper continued the experience of best-in-class. But it was the modern construction details that shook up the classic-ness and made this rock.

X-factor: Through/through venting meant you could be walking the village in Gstaad and drop-in for a Schnapps {without having to take off your sweet parka}.

So proud of this style. Literally my first production piece in Salomon’s 2001 Advanced Skin apparel launch and it stayed in Salomon’s collection for 12 fall/winter seasons. The STL 551 told the story of advanced skin perfectly. The low-key features, stretch Schoeller goods and just-protective-enough spirit of the style made it an instant classic. In a sea of taped garments, the softshell was quiet, super breathable and truly new in an already-saturated market.

X-factor: All of the above, but 5G invisible zippers made the features super stealth and drew attention to elegant linework.