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R A NG E
When Cordura developed its latest technolo-
gy termed Combat Wool, it knew it had won
half the battle. There was the need to combine
fashion and function. There was the tool to do
ita durable wool that was just as sof as it was tough. But the best
intentions couldnt replace great design, and thats where designer
Alex Valdman came in. The rest was execution.
Nothing comes more naturally to Valdman than apparel de-
sign. For multiple generations his family has worked in the textile
industry, and his father worked for Adobe, which provided exposure
to design sofware at a young age. Building on that legacy and skill-
set, Valdman has worked with the likes of Kanye West and Levis,
and more recently serving as Design Director at Giro, the cycling
brand that just launched its rst apparel collection last year. Vald-
man brought Corduras Fashion meets Function Collection to life.

R A N G E What makes Fashion Meets Function relevant, and
why do we need it?
A L E X V A L D M A N At the end of the day, the clothes have to work
for the conditions they claim. Otherwise, its just fashion. If I can nail
the need (function) and the want (desire), then its well rounded, and
I dont feel like Imjust putting out more stuf.
Where did you find the
inspiration?
As someone that is look-
ing to downsize quite a bit, Im
inspired by having less things
that do more. I felt like I didnt
have a pant in my closest that
was durable and had a sof
feel; something that I could
wear across town, on a bike,
while climbing or camping
with friends.
Why use wool?
Wool historically has al-
ways been very comfortable,
but it wears out. Now with the
Cordura Combat Wool, it will
wear in. The heart of this proj-
ect was the concept fabrics that
Cordura provided me. They are nylon6,6 on the face and wool against
the skin. You get durability, and the sof, next-to-skin feel all in one.
What design features make the collection functional?
Multipurpose?
The pants were mostly about having a relaxed t with a bit of anti-
t in the seat for comfort when climbing, cycling, moving around or just
chilling. I also tried to articulate the lower thigh and knee without the
use of bulky darts or paneling. It eliminates fabric constraint so you have
a full range of movement.
As for the jacket, I wanted to bring out the fabrics natural comfort
to build a versatile, three-season piece. The jacket also plays with pro-
portion, which compliments the silhouette of the pants.
As a designer did you take any risks or try anything you
hadnt done before?
The knee articulation concept was something I experimented with.
Its all about pushing our level of comfort. For me, that means trying
newsilhouettes. Thats where the fantasy and dialogue of newforms can
meet the more utilitarian side of function, meaning once all the func-
tionality boxes are checked, its exciting to dreamup the rest.
No one wears jeans in the rain. No one wears
jeans on a hot day. And no one who wants free-
dom of movement, thinks of denim. But jeans
are an American icon; they are both the work-
mans uniform and a staple of leisure and comfort. Why cant denim
behave like we want it to? It can.
Denim is now more durable. It can be warm. It can be cool.
Specially engineered bers can channel moisture, repel water and
move air through a hollow core. The idea of wearing jeans is now
more comfortable and more versatile. If you want to ride your bike
in the rain or climb on a hot day, think denim. And thank Cordura.
Before Cordura, alpinists had very limited op-
tions when it came to climbing gear. Canvas was
heavy and wouldnt stand up to the elements of
the big international mountains. When Kletter-
werks was born in 1975, the now famous designer, Dana Gleason,
envisioned a new approach towards climbing gear lighter weight
and more water resistant, without losing durability. In the early
70s, fabric technology within the furniture industry was booming,
so Dana took a cue and invested in a few rolls of woven Nylon. It
was tough, lightweight and very water resistant; all the characteris-
tics mountaineers needed. Afer some initial testing, it was proven.
Cordura Nylon would become the future of the outdoor industry.
Thule is known for car-top gear closets. At some
point, everyones dad has said, Just throw it in
the Thule, dammit. Thule isnt yet known for
backpacking, but that might change. The brand
is unveiling its rst line of technical packs, one of the most compet-
itive product segments in the outdoors. Keep in mind, Kletterworks
has been doing this since the 1970s!
So what material does the new guy decide to make its packs
from? Cordura nylon6,6 fabric. Why? The strength-to-weight ratio
is rugged and extremely lightweight. There are a lot of details that
dene a good backpack, but you start with the right fabric.
There s a movement happening in the outdoors. We don t want
a kit or a uniform for everything we do. Adventurers, urban
explorers, the restless souls that spend every waking moment
on the move, want the gap between their lifestyle and the
activities that define them to be seamless. We are demanding
more from the clothes we wear everyday.
To build that bridge, Corduraa leader in fabric
technologiesis manipulating lifestyle fabrics like denim and
wool, and injecting them with performance qualities. Everyone
touts durability, stretch, moisture management,
etc., but dont let a sea of features cloud the end
result. There are only two things that matter here:
Fashion and Function.
Combat Wool
Think Denim
Got Your Back
The New Guy
F O R T H E C L I M B ,
T H E S T R E T C H , T H E L E A P ,
T H E O N E - H A N D - H O L D
O R J U S T F O R H A N G I N O U T .
T H E W O M E N S C R E E K P A N T
F R O M B L A C K D I A M O N D
I S P O W E R E D B Y C O R D U R A
F A B R I C . S L I M - C U T .
R U G G E D . B R E A T H A B L E .
A N D R E A W E S T E R L I N D ,
F O U N D E R O F
A B O V E T R E E L I N E
A L E X V A L D M A N
Cordura is one of those
fabrics thatpossess so many
diferent qualitiesdurability,
waterresistance, texture and
even the way it takes color.
Thats why its been such
arevolutionaryand timeless
choice for bag makers
decade afer decade.
The beauty of the outdoor industry is that it has
nearly a century of experience in producing the
most technically advanced materials, and now
the Big Apple urban brands are catching on. Cor-
dura and Manhattan Portage recently unveiled a
collaborative line of daypacks, messenger bags and luggageall with
the goal of lightweight durability. The colors pop, too.
Manhattan
Portage
Our buddies Jon and Jess at Victory Press shredded
across the country from BK to LA to set up their pop-
up shop at Space 15 Twenty in Hollywood. Here are
some fresh snapshots from their epic journey.
B R Y C E
C A N Y O N
U T A H
N O R R I S
G E Y S E R
B A S I N
W Y O M I N G
Y E L L O W S T O N E
N A T I O N A L P A R K
W Y O M I N G
C U S T E R
N A T I O N A L F O R E S T
M O N T A N A
T H I S C L A S S I C D U R A B L E
N Y L O N R I P - S T O P I S R E B O R N
W I T H W O O L A S I T S N E W
A T T R I B U T E . L I G H T W E I G H T ,
L U X U R I O U S A N D D U R A B L E :
T H I S I S T H E P E R F E C T
E V E R Y D A Y J A C K E T F O R
M I L D W E A T H E R .
T H I S C A P S U L E O F T E C H N I C A L
C I T Y E S S E N T I A L S I S
I N S P I R E D B Y T H E Y O U T H F U L
S P I R I T O F T A K I N G D A Y
T R I P S . T H E B L E N D I N G O F
A C R E D I B L E A N D D U R A B L E
P E R F O R M A N C E W O O L S T R E T C H
I N A S T Y L E T H A T S
D I S R U P T I V E C A N O N L Y B E
D O N E W I T H C O R D U R A .