There's a new player getting ready to enter the cycling softgoods market, with the aim of creating high end, technical apparel purpose built to withstand the rigors of mountain and road biking. Based in Squamish, British Columbia, the 7mesh team has decades of combined experience in the apparel industry. The company recently announced their partnership with W. L. Gore & Associates, a move that will allow them to use GORE-TEX® and WINDSTOPPER fabrics throughout their upcoming clothing line. Tyler Jordan, 7mesh's president and CEO, said, “Our goal is to become the most respected softgoods company in the cycling industry. Gore is the acknowledged leader in waterproof, water resistant, and breathable fabrics and we’re thrilled to partner with them for our launch.”
7mesh is able to create prototypes at their Squamish, BC, facility.Where does the name 7mesh come from? It's a nod to the company's Squamish location, which the indigenous inhabitants called Sḵwx̱wú7mesh. Located in between Whistler and Vancouver, Squamish has gone so far as to dub itself the 'Outdoor Recreation Capital of the World', a bold claim, but one that its close proximity to world class climbing, skiing, cycling, and kiteboarding makes it hard to dispute. 7mesh's decision to base their design studio here was prompted in part by the variety of available outdoor activities as well as the broad spectrum of weather, which includes everything from hot summer days to weeks of pounding rain, the ideal conditions for thorough product testing.
The entire range of clothing is designed and tested at 7mesh's Squamish facility, and then manufactured overseas. This is slightly different than the normal procedure – typically, a company comes up with a design on paper and then relies on a factory to come up with the initial samples. Having the ability to manufacture their own samples allows 7mesh to create a product that accurately reflects their vision, rather than relying on others to bring a concept to life.
The recently announced partnership with Gore will allow 7mesh access to technical fabrics ideally suited to wet climates like the Pacific Northwest.When asked about what inspired the creation of a new company, Ian Martin, 7mesh's vice president of R&D said, “We're all cyclists, and we really felt that we couldn't get what we wanted out there; we thought that the product could be way better. We saw a hole in cycling, and felt it was as good a time as any to go for it.” 7mesh isn't hiding the fact that their products will be at the upper end of the pricing scale, but they also stress that their apparel is designed to last season after season, as opposed to being a nearly disposable garment that lasts only a few months. 7mesh's full line will be revealed at this year's Eurobike tradeshow, which takes place at the end of August.
7meshinc.com
www.bikeski.ca/blog/im-only-happy-when-im-miserable
www.youtube.com/watch?v=768h3Tz4Qik
That and the warranty on arcteryx kit is unbeatable.
i heard a saying once that is usually true:
buy the best and that's the least you need to spend.
Arc'Teryx is for Vangroovy twats anyway.
In regards to the business model you are focused upon, and the question you have asked- I think that arcteryx has taken my 8 year old jacket, which has seen almost every territory and province in Canada, led numerous outdoor Ed trips, skied endless mtns, paddled numerous lakes and rivers, and ridden a buncha mtns, and after 8 years really owes me nothing, taken it and replaced it with a brand new jacket for free so that I can continue to enjoy the outdoors, so that I will continue to purchase their products and thru word of mouth direct others to purchase their products. Because they are accountable for their product and they make good shit. Does it cost them less to replace the jacket then repair it? Maybe...maybe they take these jackets which are compromised and research how to make better shells. So if in the end the only reason, as you seem to suggest, is to improve customer satisfaction and word of mouth promotion, I think that's smart and even endorse them for that.
So save your shekels and buy some crackers fella.
FYI, I'd rather, and do support companies that have style built into their tech gear. Ones that know gear gets abused, and will repair non-warranty issues for a small fee.
But yeah, those alpine cut black bibs, and black ski jacket with the roll into the collar hood look sick in '96 brah!
www.youtube.com/user/patagoniavideo
The term twat is very common in Great Britain, whereas brah is used a lot in Hawaii, New Zealand and Australia. Your little title has a Canadian flag beside it. Now, I have been to all of these countries and can say that none of them are very welcoming to crybabies like you portray yourself as, so let me ask you, have you been displaced from one of these locations or are you just trying to assume some bohemian aura in your tantrums?
It's painfully obvious that you are consumed in the fashion/ aesthetics aspects connected to outdoor gear, you have mentioned it three times. Yet you lament about the attitude and behaviour of people of means in regards to these kinds of apparel companies. Are you perhaps a wannabe outdoorsy type, stuck on the sidelines because you are too busy feeling sorry for yourself instead of getting out there and making things happen? This seems quite common in BC, and since you mentioned van groovy, I'll assume you're local to the area.
Now, to answer your queries, my shell was indeed put through the ringer, and on a backcountry ski trip the trip leader noticed my zipper becoming compromised, and let me know he had the same problem and it was replaced. So I in turn approached the local rep, who happily took the shell, and had it replaced since arcteryx realized that specific zipper was faulty. BECAUSE ARCTERYX IS AWESOME. No pestering, no threats, no, ahem, crying. And yeah, I was happy and able to buy another one.
You really do get what you pay for. If you spend the extra cash on something, it'll last longer for 2 main reasons.
1. It's most likely that its made from more durable, technically advanced and longer lasting fabrics.
2. You paid more than you normally would, so chances are that you'll take better care of whatever you bought.
Don't knock them for producing over seas. They're locals making the effort to make your life and your riding more comfortable.
You're right about the smaller wage/ environmental law point.
I like the name.
Maybe they see a trade show as a better option for a full reveal but would be cool for them to do something "local" at the biggest mountain bike event out there.
Just a thought
www.sugoi.com/can/bike/men/shorts-bibs/rpm-x-waterproof-short.html