Archives: Press Releases

JACKSON, Wyo. (April 29, 2020) – Jackson Hole-based outdoor apparel brand Stio is pleased to announce its senior sourcing & production manager hire. Gena Calegari joins Stio’s dynamic product development team from Old Navy, bringing nearly twenty years of experience in apparel production with exposure to the entirety of the creation cycle across all categories and multiple countries of origin.

“This is an important hire for Stio as we continue to strengthen our sourcing and production strategies and partnerships,” said Kelly Hill, Stio’s chief product officer. “We look forward to integrating Gena’s expertise and passion for producing purposeful product lines that meet our customers’ needs. She offers leadership and a wide breadth of knowledge that will bolster current processes and support our long-term growth plans.”

Over her nearly fifteen year tenure at the Gap Brand, Gena managed a range of product lines — most recently the global production of maternity and plus at Old Navy — and oversaw new company processes and roll outs during her time as senior manager of global production strategy. Gena’s experience in partnering with companies to produce consumer products through supply chains grounded in exceptional quality, sustainable sourcing and nimble operations is a valuable new addition to Stio’s team.

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About Stio®

Headquartered in the heart of the Tetons in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, Stio® was founded to inspire connection with the outdoors through beautiful, functional and innovative products infused with mountain soul. Stio’s mountain town style meets backcountry performance product is sold via Stio Mountain Studio® retail stores, Stio® catalogs and the Stio® website. stio.com

Vasque Footwear, a family-owned company with more than 55 years of experience in the outdoor footwear sector, is pleased to announce its keystone partnership for 2020 with the Children & Nature Network, a national non-profit working to increase access to nature for children, families and communities.

“For the past year, we have been working to find new ways to inspire people to get more nature in their everyday lives,” said Joe Peters, marketing director at Vasque Footwear. “Our partnership with the Children & Nature Network will help us share information with the Vasque community about the benefits of spending time outside, and provide real-world ideas for connecting to the natural world.”

The Children & Nature Network (C&NN) leads a global movement to increase equitable access to nature so that children, and the wild places we cherish, can thrive. The organization advances nature connection strategies in key areas that impact children’s daily lives: families, cities and schools. C&NN curates research that makes the case for regular nature connection; works to advance policies that increase access to quality outdoor experiences and green spaces; and builds the capacity of a network of nature connection leaders around the world.​

A keystone of Vasque’s partnership with the Children & Nature Network is helping to amplify the importance of nature for health and well-being. Vasque is the exclusive underwriter of C&NN’s new editorial feature, Inside Out, Stories from the Field, launching Summer 2020. This interactive news platform will offer in-depth stories, columns and podcasts about the benefits of nature connection, along with tips and inspiration for spending more time outdoors. During the COVID19 crisis, C&NN is offering support and resources through FindingNature.org.

“We know that nature has the power to make people healthier and happier,” said Sarah Milligan-Toffler, executive director of the Children & Nature Network. “Vasque understands the importance of nature connection in peoples’ lives and the need to shift our indoor society, especially our indoor kids, back out to the natural world. We are thrilled to have Vasque as an engaged and committed partner in this critical work.”

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ABOUT Vasque

Vasque Footwear has delivered functional, durable footwear to millions of outdoor enthusiasts since 1964. We believe that you don’t have to go far to change your perspective. By simply stepping outside we can change out we feel on the inside. When we disconnect, we reconnect.

Vasque Footwear – Trail Footwear Since 1964. Visit us at Vasque.com

Bozeman, Mont., (April 28, 2020) —Oboz Footwear, the True to the Trail® outdoor footwear company based in Bozeman, introduces the True to the Trail Podcast.  Hosted by Rich Hohne, Oboz Director of Marketing, the podcast will explore the beauty and power of the outdoors through voices in the Oboz world from Bozeman and beyond. 

“Storytelling has always been central to our brand and the podcast gives us a platform to share the stories of Oboz’s partners, friends, and staff,” added Hohne.

Each episode will feature a gear or hiking expert, Bozeman personality, Oboz partner, or outdoor advocate.  Hohne will dive into each guest’s story, learn what being “true to the trail” means to them and the “O”-moments that inspired them.

JACKSON, Wyo. (April 28, 2020) – In partnership with Brands x Better, Stio is donating 2% of sales through May 31^st  to Direct Relief to provide protective equipment and essential medical items to health workers responding to and treating COVID-19. Direct Relief is an organization working in all 50 US States and 80 Countries to support front line health workers.

Brands x Better is coalition of consumer brands who are committed to fostering stability in a time of crisis. Coalition members are giving back to those most affected by COVID-19, supporting their employees during these uncertain times and promoting conscious consumer spending to keep the economy functioning. Stio is proud to join a remarkable group of brands in an effort to do its part to combat this pandemic.

“All of the Brands x Better companies embody the ‘we are stronger together’ ethos, and we sincerely thank Co-Founder/CEO Nate Checketts and the entire team at Rhone for spearheading this impactful new movement.” said Stephen Sullivan, founder and CEO of Stio. “As we continue to weather this storm, we feel encouraged by finding ways in which we can support our communities and those in need right now.”

Brands x Better has raised $1,164,592 to date, and this number continues to grow daily.

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About Stio®

Headquartered in the heart of the Tetons in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, Stio® was founded to inspire connection with the outdoors through beautiful, functional and innovative products infused with mountain soul. Stio’s mountain town style meets backcountry performance product is sold via Stio Mountain Studio® retail stores, Stio® catalogs and the Stio® website. stio.com

ROCKFORD, Mich. (April 27, 2020) – Chaco Footwear, the outdoor lifestyle footwear brand, announced today that it has created an innovative partnership program to help support its retailers affected by the COVID-19 crisis. The new dropship program will allow participating retailers to offer Chaco’s full collection of products online through Chacos.com. Using a unique digital experience, participating retailers will earn a percentage on every sale and Chaco will handle the delivery and any returns for the retailer.  

“For over 30 years, independent retailers have been the backbone of Chaco’s business and the foundation of our community – it’s critical we support them in these challenging times,” said Todd Gordon, Interim General Manager and VP of Sales. “Now more than ever, brands need to think creatively about how we support independent retail, and we believe this program will provide immediate opportunities for our retailer partners.”

Chaco is using this program to encourage its consumers to “stay home and shop local,” while social distancing and sheltering-in-place. The brand has also created a full suite of marketing materials for each retailer to launch through their social media and digital channels, with Chaco driving awareness and engagement through its own marketing channels.

“Knowing that time and resources are limited during this crisis, we wanted to make sure participating is as easy as possible,” said Lyndi Bell, Chaco’s Marketing Manager leading the program launch. “By providing a turnkey solution with all the assets, retailers should be able to get started right away.”

Chaco has offered the program to an initial group of retailers and plans to scale the program over the coming weeks.

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About Chaco: Born on the river in 1989, Chaco builds premium footwear for the outdoor-minded. As a result of the brand’s proprietary LUVSEAT™ foot bed, the American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA) has awarded the Seal of Acceptance to all Chaco footwear styles. The APMA Seal is intended to raise awareness by identifying products of exceptional quality that are manufactured with comfort, health, and safety in mind. Simply put, Chaco is fit for adventure. Please visit us at www.chacos.com, Facebook: Chacos, Instagram: ChacoFootwear, Twitter: Chacousa.

Center of competence for hygiene established in Wiener Neudorf to support Austria and the EU in the Covid-19 crisis

• Establishment of a center of competence for hygiene to produce and further develop protective items to contain the Covid-19 pandemic
• Investment of several million euros in machinery with a monthly production capacity of 12 million pieces (standard protective masks and FFP2 masks)
• Safeguarding jobs in Austria
• High-quality, certified products „made in Austria“ available on the market from May onwards

Wiener Neudorf – Lenzing AG and Palmers Textil AG found “Hygiene Austria LP GmbH”, in which Lenzing AG holds 50.1% and Palmers Textil AG 49.9%. The newly founded company will start producing and selling protective masks for the domestic and European markets from May 2020.

Over the past few weeks, Lenzing AG and Palmers Textil AG have invested several million euros in a modern production infrastructure at the Wiener Neudorf location and secured the corresponding raw materials for protective masks production. In a first step, the company produces so-called mouth-nose protective masks (MNS) and surgical protective masks of class EN14683. Hygiene Austria LP GmbH plans to increase its capacities to over 25 million masks per month over the next few weeks and to expand this business geographically as well.

The demand for high-quality MNS and respiratory masks for medical personnel is increasing rapidly, and there is real competition on the international market for these products. In order to sustainably secure domestic supply now and in the future and to strengthen the business location, the two companies Lenzing AG and Palmers Textil AG have now set a milestone with their own competence center for hygiene based in Austria. Hygiene Austria LP GmbH thus makes a significant contribution to combating the Covid-19 pandemic and ensures the long-term supply of these critical goods in Austria in high quality. “We decided to pool our knowledge, network and experience in a competence center for hygiene together with our partner Palmers. The aim of this joint venture is to provide the citizens of Austria and Europe with the best possible protection through locally manufactured, high-quality products,” says Stefan Doboczky, CEO of Lenzing AG. „Masks will continue to play an important role in our daily lives and we are proud that we were able to achieve our goal of an industrial production so quickly together with our partner Palmers.”

“We decided to pool our knowledge, network and experience in a competence center for hygiene together with our partner Palmers. The aim of this joint venture is to provide the citizens of Austria and Europe with the best possible protection through locally manufactured, high-quality products,” says Stefan Doboczky, CEO of Lenzing AG. „Masks will continue to play an important role in our daily lives and we are proud that we were able to achieve our goal of an industrial production so quickly together with our partner Palmers.”

Symbiosis between Palmers and Lenzing
Palmers Textil AG and Lenzing AG complement each other perfectly. Luca Wieser, member of the Board of Palmers: „We have many years of experience in the manufacture and distribution of textile products, Lenzing brings its technological experience in the hygiene sector, the know-how regarding procurement and raw material and knowledge in the field of plant engineering.“

“We are not only connected by textile experience and “made in Austria”, but also by the will to act quickly now and to do something for the protection of citizens – we see this as our duty to society. We are entrepreneurs and we are proud of our country,” continues Tino Wieser, member of the Board of Palmers. „We specially want to thank our dedicated employees, who have worked day and night on the timely implementation of Hygiene Austria‘s production in the past few weeks,“ says Matvei Hutman, member of the Board of Palmers, pleased with the great commitment of all the employees.

This project was also supported by Lenzing‘s main shareholder B&C Industrieholding and the Supervisory Board, and fits into other initiatives of B&C Industrieholding to support the Republic of Austria in health protection measures. Law firm Binder Grösswang provided advice on the foundation of the company.

Outdoor retailer offers car-side delivery of dog care products, apparel, and outdoor gear for fly-fishing, wingshooting

Outdoor retailer Orvis announces it has reopened brand centers in select locations for curbside pickup of dog care products, apparel, and outdoor gear for fly-fishing and wingshooting.

Orvis brand centers currently open for curbside pickup include:

• Phoenix
• Carmel, Calif.
• Avon, Conn.
• Park Meadows, Colo.
• Alpharetta, Ga.
• Atlanta
• Baton Rouge, La.
• Asheville, N.C.
• Raleigh Wade, N.C.
• Nashville, Tenn.
• Plano, Tex.
• Fort Worth, Tex.
• Manchester, Vt.
• Jackson Hole, Wyo.

In order to make a purchase from their local Orvis brand center, customers should locate their desired product(s) at www.orvis.com, then select “Curbside Pickup” during checkout. The store manager will confirm with the customer on the next business day that the item is available for pickup, take payment information, and schedule an appointment. Curbside service is available Monday, Wednesday and Friday between 11:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. local time.

Customers can find more information about the curbside pickup process at www.orvis.com/ropis.

For more information on Orvis, please contact Account Manager Madeline Fones at madeline.fones@rygr.us.

About The Orvis Company: Founded in 1856, we believe the most meaningful experiences are created by sharing the love of nature and being inspired by its endless possibilities. Orvis pioneered the mail order industry in the United States, operates more than 80 retail stores in theU.S and the U.K., and maintains a network of over 400 dealers worldwide as a trusted source of discovery and adventure in the natural world. We promise to open the door to extraordinary outdoor experiences, and to protect nature by committing 5% of our pretax profits each year to conservation efforts worldwide.www.orvis.com

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For every reusable non-medical face mask purchased through the Headsweats official site, one will be donated for preventative efforts and aid assistance.

Headsweats, the leader in high-performance apparel and headwear, has teamed up with Grassroots Aid Partners (GAP) to donate masks for volunteers who provide hot food to communities that have been largely affected due to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.  

Grassroots Aid Partners believes in the collective responsibility of all to help communities in times of crisis through providing healthy and nutritious food.  With thousands of volunteers that help touch affected areas, the donation of masks will help maintain protocols and guidelines to hinder the continued spread of COVID-19 during this unprecedented time.    

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends wearing a cloth face mask in public settings to reduce the risk of contamination (when speaking, coughing or sneezing) in addition to maintaining the 6-feet social distancing to slow down, reduce the spread of the pandemic.  “There is an incredible shortage of non-medical face masks,” said Mike McQueeney, President CEO of Headsweats. “We’re very proud to have the ability and knowhow to produce non-medical high quality reusable masks.  We’ve decided not to stop there! Headsweats will be donating a mask for every mask purchased on our official website.”

Available in a variety of colors and designs, Headsweats Elite Face Masks are made of triple-layered breathable material that is reusable, washable and one standard size to fit most adults.

For more information visit https://www.headsweats.com/categories/face-masks/. 

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About Headsweats
Considered the “secret weapon” for athletes and active lifestyle enthusiasts, Headsweats is recognized as the world leader in ultra-light, supremely wicking headwear and athletic apparel. A variety of high-quality performance products made of REPREVE® recycled fibers are now available online and for customization. Whether you’re looking for headwear or apparel we’ve got you covered – all backed by an unconditional warranty. With the ability to create unique and custom headwear and apparel that is eco-friendly, Headsweats is sought-after to help personalize apparel and optimize performance whether training at the gym, hiking the trails, pounding the pavement or celebrating on the podium. For more information visit Headsweats.com

About Grassroots Aid Partnership
With over 2 years in the makes, Grassroots Aid Partnership (GAP) is a non-for-profit organization with the vision is a world where rebuilding is a healthy and collective responsilibilitiy.   Partnered with many conscious brands, this orgranizaiton bridges the gap between disaster relief organizations and donors to ensure donations are reaching the areas that have been affected the most. For more information, please visit  https://www.grassrootsaidpartnership.org

Kahtoola is committed to helping support those most impacted by COVID-19 and giving back to the local community. As one way of offering a helping hand during this difficult time, Kahtoola is hosting a virtual run benefiting the Havasupai Tribe’s COVID-19 relief fund in hopes of raising $10,000. Runners, joggers and walkers can register now and begin fundraising through May 8 and complete the 5k or 8-mile distance anytime between May 1-10.

This virtual event is designed to encourage people to get active during the Coronavirus pandemic while also supporting a great cause. Run outside on trails (in accordance with local ordinances), neighborhood streets, or even in place in your living room with the whole family! All race proceeds will be donated directly to the Havasupai Tribe.

The Havasupai Tribe is remotely located at the bottom of the Grand Canyon—an 8-mile journey by mule, on foot, or by helicopter—a factor that compounds the community’s risk during this pandemic. Healthcare supplies and medical access in the community itself are extremely limited, and tourism (on which the tribe relies economically) and all non-essential travel in and out of the Canyon have been suspended. For decades, the tribe has also fought to oppose uranium mining in the Grand Canyon (learn more here) so on behalf of everyone that cherishes the Grand Canyon, the Havasupai could use our support. For these reasons, Kahtoola would like to help the Havasupai community ensure they have the resources they need to stay safe with adequate supplies during the pandemic.  

Race registration is open through midnight on May 8. The cost to register is free. To participate, racers can sign up to complete either the 5k or 8-mile distance as an individual or family and will receive a personal link and fundraising message that can be shared with family and friends to help secure donations. Race distance should be completed by the end of the run period at 6 p.m. on May 10. 

Racers track and record their time (based on the honor system) and top winners in each category (fastest individual, slowest individual, fastest family, most elevation gain, top fundraiser and best costume) win awards that also support local Flagstaff businesses. Racers do not have to be a Flagstaff, AZ resident to participate and awards can be mailed after the event. Awards will be announced on the Kahtoola website at noon on May 11. Those who can’t participate in the race can still help by donating directly on Kahtoola’s race page: https://runsignup.com/Race/Donate/AZ/None/Kahtoolavirtualrun.

About Kahtoola:

Since 1999, Kahtoola has been creating reliable gear that makes the outdoors more accessible and rewarding. Kahtoola’s flexible footwear traction systems, including MICROspikes® and NANOspikes® footwear traction, are built to improve safety and performance in wintry locales around the globe. Every product from hiking crampons to running gaiters are thoughtfully designed and vigorously tested at the brand’s Flagstaff, AZ headquarters high on the Colorado Plateau. Owned and operated by founder Danny Giovale, Kahtoola proudly grants 1% of annual sales to fund projects that support indigenous cultures and improve communities, healthcare, education, resources and the environment. For more information, please visit Kahtoola.com.

Have you ever wondered how paint went through decades of primarily consisting of oil-bases then suddenly switched to water-bases? We wondered what the core reason behind this change was. There is an abundance of pros and cons between the two paints, but there was one main factor that forced the change, environmental impact.

Paint is an unusual suspect for environmental impact. Most look at obvious contributors such as: single use plastics, trash, etc. Not discounting their harmful impact, but many of the main deteriorates of environmental health are products that are not usually highlighted. Oil-based paint (solvent-based) during the drying phase reacts with oxygen and evaporates, releasing VOC’s (Volatile Organic Compounds). These compounds produce a very strong odor and a harmful impact on to the environment. Water-based paints take longer to dry but do not emit toxic emissions or strong odors into the air. Due to these toxic emissions, government and other environmental regulations groups enforced extensive guidelines on solvent-based paints pushing companies to use water-based paints instead.

Solvent-based paint and solvent-based PU coating are identically impactful to the environment, but the difference between the two lies in the lack of government regulation on coatings. Every year millions of yards of fabric are coated with solvent-based coatings producing toxic emissions that contribute to Earth’s depleting ozone layer. Common products that use solvent-based coatings are backpacks, luggage, hammocks, tents, and more. Products that utilize toxic coatings are everywhere and are not highlighted in the same way as plastic bottles and straws are.

Our goal is to bring this problem to the forefront. We hope governing bodies address solvent-based coatings with the same ferocity as oil-based paints. We deserve to have the knowledge of what is harming our environment. We deserve to know how our products are actually affecting the environment. Next time before buying a backpack, take a look in the specs/features and see what they use for fabric coatings. If it says polyurethane coating, that is the harmful material that is contributing to global warming. Companies will market themselves as eco-friendly, sustainable packs, but if you take a deeper look, they will be using solvent-based coatings. So, are they really eco-friendly/sustainable or are hiding the truth? The choice is yours if you want to continue down an unsustainable path or choose to take a stand.