ISPO Munich is the world's largest tradeshow in the sports business. Running for four days in the heart of Munich Germany, the event serves as a showcase for over 2,800 retailers to show off their sparkly new goods to the world. And with over 85,000 athletes, industry pros and visitors in attendance, it's quite the party.
This year's ISPO was particularly special for Mons Royale, as we're introducing our tenth range. Our founder and CEO, Hamish Acland (who recently wrote an open letter, reflecting on the last decade of Mons) along with several key Mons crew members were at the show to present the range to the world. While there, they also took note of emerging outdoor trends in the sports space. And because one of our goals is to keep you looking sharp on the mountains, we're here to run them down for you.
As a brand, if you're not on board the sustainability train yet... well it left the station a while ago. It's pretty great to see so many outdoor companies not only making sustainability a priority, but incorporating it into their practices in the most innovative ways. Showings of sustainable production and materials are everywhere at ISPO and some brands are even designing their products to reflect a more earthy vibe.
If we get down to details, biodegradability is a big topic with lots of people shifting their energy from recycled materials to ones that can be broken down at the end of life.
Another key sustainability initiative is dope dying of textiles. In this process, colour is added to the fiber at the polymer stage, before being extruded into yarn. The result is vibrant, durable and consistent colour that removes a huge amount of water, energy and chemical consumption in the manufacturing process.
E-bikes also continue their rise in Europe, even managing to infiltrate the winter show with a myriad of winter cargo concepts to get you to the supermarket or the ski hill.
Mons has embraced sustainability from the beginning. Our NZ wool is sourced from ZQ-abiding merino farms, meaning the sheep live by the Five Freedoms. Merino is a natural product that is both renewable (the sheep regrow their fleece annually) and biodegradable.
Picture Organic Clothing is really nailing the patterns
Urban style is one of our favourite trends. And combining that style with functionality has always been a no-brainer for Mons. This year at ISPO, we saw a high concentration of this trend in outdoor apparel. We're also seeing a prevalence of intricate patterns being used across different types of products. So get ready for your baselayer to match your skibag. Hey, at least you'll know which one is yours at the airport baggage carousel right?
At Mons, we've created our brand new 9 Iron Micro print and have used it in several of our women's designs. For the men, we infused a bold forest-green camo print into our baselayers.
Retro colourways were huge among ISPO attendees
Everyone loves retro-wear. So why do we limit ourselves to only rocking it on Spring skiing days? 80's trends like red, white and blue are popping up everywhere and some brands are even boasting "90s revival" styles (too soon? We're also unsure).
Mons was built on a foundation of bold technicolour, so a retro revival is very welcome. And c'mon, who doesn't love a good pom-pom toque.
Scott Sports with the best mountain transportation
With more skiers heading into the backcountry, versatility is a key element of outdoor apparel. Consumers want to be able to adventure year-round, banishing the so-called "shoulder season". So they need gear that's going to work for them in any temperature and every condition. We're seeing lots of gear that is adaptable.
Merino happens to be one of the most versatile fabrics on the planet. The sheep from which it's shorn are wooly badasses who thrive in the heat and the cold. You can expect the same from Mons' garments. Ventilation when you need it and warmth when it's cold.
The Blondes shot by Sabine Burns
Mons has always known that women have literally carved out their own paths in the mountains, but celebrating rad females was one of the biggest trends at ISPO this year. The tradeshow had its own specific lounge supported by Womens Connect where women could network with other athletes and mountain lovers. We're also seeing more and more prominent publications and magazines supporting women-specific projects within the outdoor industry.
Well, suffice it to say we're stoked for the snow to fly in NZ and are looking forward to seeing these outdoor trends hit the slopes. As always, ISPO Munich has been a blast for the Mons Royale crew and we're excited to see what the next ten years has in store for us as we continue to attend the show.
Can't wait to get your hands on the FW19 range? It's dropping on March 1st in the Southern Hemisphere. Until then, it's not time to cover up just yet. Check out our freshly released new styles.
Photos: Thomas Gruner and Jana Linicus
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