An Inspirational Journey to the Summit of Mt. Shasta

Please join me on Wednesday, FEB 24Th, 6:30-7:30pm, at THE CLEANERS AT ACE HOTEL PORTLAND, for a CLIMB AGAINST THE ODDS MT. SHASTA slide show and story about teamwork, passion, healing, struggle, and triumph. One mother candidly shares her story about climbing to the top of Mt. Shasta alongside cancer survivors on the 2009 CLIMB AGAINST THE ODDS team. Her goal is to inspire other's to join this great cause and to become part of this year's CLIMB AGAINST THE ODDS team, guaranteed to be an unforgettable experience of a lifetime. You don't have to be a mountain climber to be a part of this team, so please come and learn more about this amazing journey.

THE CLIMB AGAINST THE ODDS is a benefit for the BREAST CANCER FUND, the BREAST CANCER FUND identifies-and advocates for elimination of - the environmental and other preventable causes of the disease.

No Host Bar and light snacks provided, this event is FREE so please spread the word to anyone you think might be interested in an inspirational journey of a lifetime.

Please feel free to call me if you have any questions. kim - 503.913.0069

Many thanks to THE CLEANERS AT ACE HOTEL for their generous donation of space for this event.

Cocona Xcelerator, is it really better?

While walking the aisles at Outdoor Retailer I walked into the Cocona booth to learn a little about their newest technology Xcelerator™ that I read about before attending the show. Excelerator™ is a new form of Cocona technology that allows them to apply their technology to WPB laminates and 3-Layer fabrications further expanding where they are able to use their technology that offers these key features:

1) Coconut Activated Carbon - is a recycled sustainable material
2) It rapidly pulls moisture away from the skin
3) It spreads moisture across the surface to increase evaporation and drying
4) It attracts and traps odors that are released when it is washed
5) Washing and drying are good for it, refreshing it's abilities.

In a nutshell (or coconut shell) it makes you feel better, and makes you less stinky when you are working hard. And because it manages moisture so well, if you sweat like I do, it helps you stay warmer too by effectively managing the excess moisture, not to mention the stink.

I'm always skeptical about new technologies, can you really tell the difference, is there really a benefit? How will the customer/consumer understand it? So they gave me a sample to try it out, and for the first time ever a sample from a fabric/technology vendor was actually nice looking and fitting too! They also gave me a glove to try that has their laminate, insulation, and fleece inside a trifecta of Cocona!



All set for testing, but winter isn't cooperating as well as I'd like in the Pacific Northwest, but I'm hoping to get it on the mountain maybe tomorrow. In the meantime I've been maxing it out on the aerobic end to see if the stink part really works. I've even been putting it on at the gym after a big sweaty workout to wear around until I cool down. (My other jackets tend to stink to high heaven from this) So far, I can't smell any odor at all on the interior of the fabric, but the YKK pitzip is not holding up as well, there is an obvious stink on the zipper tape that does not exist on the fabric near by. Hmmmm. Stay Tuned, and if you want to test too head to their site and tell them why you'd be a great tester.

The Life & Love of Trees

During my recent trip to San Francisco I weighed myself down with one book find after another. My MOST favorite of the loot is The Life & Love of Trees, with text by Lewis Blackwell.

Lewis Blackwell is recognized as a leader in creative and photographic practice. For almost a decade he led the creative development of the world’s largest photo agency, Getty Images, and previously he was widely regarded as a trend watcher and innovator with his work as editor/publisher of the prestigious title Creative Review. He is a visiting professor at the School of Creative Leadership at Steinbeis University, Berlin.

His books are considered some of the most critically acclaimed and bestselling in the creative field worldwide, and include The End of Print, Soon: The Future Culture of Brands, and Twentieth-Century Type.

I've always been inspired by nature, and besides the fact that this is mostly a "picture" book (designer's love them) the photo's are both inspirational and memorable at the same time. I found as I turned the pages that these photos invoked memories for me. For $50.00, you can't go wrong with adding this book to your coffee table or design library.

DoG - Get the code

Full price is dead. You'll never have to choose between gear and groceries again


You gotta be crafty and sleuth your way in to Department of Goods, another new store from the team at Backcountry.com, selling the latest outdoor, surf, skate, bike, and mountain equipment from more than 400 pinnacle brands. Once discovered you might have just stumbled upon the promised land of premium gear. Boasting up to 70% off of tons of ski gear, up to 50% off everything bike, and up to 70% off of everything for riding too, how can you possibly go wrong?

Not convinced yet? Check out this snapshot of the array of products you'll find from DoG:

What's in that bottle?

I've been looking at this bottle sitting in our bathroom for a couple of year's now, mind you it's more than a couple of year's old...a bottle of Spohn's Compound, a bottle that I inherited from my dad who is ditching his vintage bottle collection. A bottle that is inspiring to me, almost every time I look at it. A bottle worth sharing with friends, of a "Stimulating Expectorant for HORSES, MULES, DOGS, RABBITS, apparently one of those wonders of the early 1900's. A bottle that would tuck nicely inside of a LaMerde jacket for the occasion that a gentleman might need it.

When I say Airblaster what comes to mind?

Spending some time hitting the streets in PDX this week and yesterday's travels had me at the US Outdoor Store, where making a purchase choice can cause a veritable quandary, there is surely enough outdoor gear to meet any single person on the planet's need for gear. Since the last time I truly looked in every nook and cranny of the store things have changed. First of all, the amount of gear in the store this time of year is overwhelming, the assortment for the square footage is enough to wear you out just pushing back one style to see another. (This is more true on the main floor than upstairs where it is refreshingly open in comparison.) Secondly, I didn't realize there was a bargain/sale annex upstairs...maybe it's a sign of the times, but it could have also been there before.

I have to admit I didn't spend too much time on the first floor except to confirm my suspicions that outdoor still remains well, you know, the same. It was great to see Armada's new outerwear collection front and center though on the half of the store that isn't dominated by The North Face. So I rather quickly ended up upstairs this trip. I immediately found two brands that I didn't see at SIA, of course they could have been there, but I didn't see them.

That brings me to Airblaster, a brand that touts themselves as being a small company from Portland, Bend OR, Lake Tahoe CA, and San Fran CA and a sketchy RV somewhere in the great USA. Just one look at the line I was able to admire their irreverence, this is what I believe is missing in the outdoor industry where everyone takes themselves way too seriously for irreverence. (I heard one of the store employees asking another if they "had" to go to Outdoor Retailer, and when the other said no and how boring the show was, the girl who will be going lamented the same.) US Outdoor had a pretty decent size assortment of this new partially local brand, always great to see local support.

The SUMO SUIT had me laughing right away, there is something a little phallic about it, luv it!


The line is sort of a fun mix of bold 80's colorblocking with crazy bright colors, as well as a nod to classic ski styling of the late 60's and 70's. You can easily see that in the aptly named BIG SKY jacket here


Another fun style is the COLORING BOOK jacket and pant, where you can customize panels with your own fantastic creations for a a truly one of a kind look.


If I say 80's you say Airblaster....



There is not as large of an assortment for the girlies, but you gotta love the DONNA jacket and STRETCH bib, think how dry your back will stay, these babies got you covered, and I gotta say it, wish there were more brights for the chica's we like color too.


I've yet to try them on or hear anything on fit/performance, but if I do will be sure to share. Keep thinking about snow, and stay tuned for more soon!

Portland Fashion Week Ready to Roll, benefitting Oregon Manifest

On October 10th a different kind of fashion show happened celebrating the bike friendly spirit of PDX. Ready to Roll showcased new designs via a runway show highlighting both bikes and fashion together from Apres Velo, Cestelli, Hell Yes, Icebreaker, Keen, Nau, Patagonia, Simple Shoes, and Showers Pass to name a few. Thought I'd share a few photos that found inspiring from this event.

Fun Design Project for Filson

One of the best things about having a freelance design studio is the variety of work and projects that you get to work on. Last Spring I worked together with the Filson team up in Seattle to create some new outerwear pieces for their collection. Filson is one of the few classic American heritage brands that has been in business for a very long time, since 1897.

1897 Klondike gold seekers come to C.C. Filson for rugged outfits to survive -50 cold.
1902 Loggers line up for Filson's new clothing line for loggers.
1914 Patent is granted for Filson Cruiser coat, still made and sold today.
1927 Filson Cruiser becomes copied extensively when patent expires.
1941 Filson expands its line of boots.
1945 U.S. Forest Service commissions new water repellent garments, dyed Forestry Green.
1985 Factory moves to Seattle's historic Pioneer Square, 5 blocks from original 1897 store.
1991 Luggage line is re-introduced, made of Rugged Twill and Bridle Leather.
1996 Fly fishing vests are introduced after 10 years of research and development.
1998 New lodge-like store opens in historic building 10 blocks from original location.
2003 Original Wool Shirt made of 100% virgin Merino wool is introduced.
2005 New Recoil Pad Technology introduced in our Super Shooting Shirts and in several of Shooting and Hunting Outerwear products. New, easier to use website introduced.

The office location is near to the flagship store in Seattle, and they are one of the few brands that still has a factory right there making oilcloth and leather clothing, bags, and goods right there. It is a beautiful thing to see the craftsmanship that goes into the pieces that they make. Here are a few of the pieces that were created for Filson by SY Design that you can now find on their website. It doesn't take long to realize that they take their slogan "Might As Well Have The Best," very seriously.

Classic Down never goes out of style, these pieces utilize a unique polyester/wool blend fabric with a special down proof construction. The fabric really gives these style a unique outdoor twist for Filson.



The Wingshooting Jacket is Filson's first lighter weight WPB hunting jacket. This was a fun style to create because it uses many of the latest technologies, and has integrated inside pocketing to accommodate a recoil pad for either left or right handed shooters.




The North Fork Wading Jacket for $325.00 is a beautiful classic fly fishing WPB jacket, that has been lightened up a little from what the traditional Filson look would normally be.