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R A N G 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

it—a durable wool that was just as soft as it was tough. But the best

intentions couldn’t replace great design, and that’s 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 software at a young age. Building on that legacy and skill-

set, Valdman has worked with the likes of Kanye West and Levi’s,

and more recently serving as Design Director at Giro, the cycling

brand that just launched its first apparel collection last year. Vald-

man brought Cordura’s 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, it’s just fashion. If I can nail

the need (function) and the want (desire), then it’s well rounded, and

I don’t feel like I’m just putting out more stuff.

Where did you find the

inspiration?

As someone that is look-

ing to downsize quite a bit, I’m

inspired by having less things

that do more. I felt like I didn’t

have a pant in my closest that

was durable and had a soft

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 soft, next-to-skin feel all in one.

What design features make the collection functional?

Multipurpose?

The pants were mostly about having a relaxed fit with a bit of anti-

fit 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 fabric’s 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

hadn’t done before?

The knee articulation concept was something I experimented with.

It’s all about pushing our level of comfort. For me, that means trying

new silhouettes. That’s where the fantasy and dialogue of new forms can

meet the more utilitarian side of function, meaning once all the func-

tionality boxes are checked, it’s exciting to dream up 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-

man’s uniform and a staple of leisure and comfort. Why can’t denim

behave like we want it to? It can.

Denim is now more durable. It can be warm. It can be cool.

Specially engineered fibers 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 wouldn’t 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.  After 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, everyone’s dad has said, “Just throw it in

the Thule, dammit.” Thule isn’t yet known for

backpacking, but that might change. The brand

is unveiling its first 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

define 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, Cordura—a leader in fabric

technologies—is manipulating lifestyle fabrics like denim and

wool, and injecting them with performance qualities. Everyone

touts durability, stretch, moisture management,

etc., but don’t 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 that possess  so many different qualities—durability, water resistance, texture and even the way it takes color. That’s why it’s been such a revolutionary and timeless choice for bag makersdecade after 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 luggage—all with

the goal of lightweight durability. The colors pop, too.

ManhattanPortage

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 GC 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 .