Black Diamond Integrates Leading Ingredient Brands for Apparel Debut

Black Diamond Equipment®, a leading global innovator in climbing, skiing and mountain sports equipment, announces Schoeller Textil®, Polartec®, PrimaLoft® and Pertex® as ingredient partners for its Fall 2013 apparel launch.

“Our 2013 apparel line addresses the needs of alpinists in the same way our equipment does through intuitively designed, rigorously engineered and beautifully executed pieces that we trust and use,” states Tim Bantle, Director of Apparel for Black Diamond Equipment. “Our fall collection is designed with our core customer in mind, using the highest performing fabrics from the best textile brands including Schoeller® stretch wovens, Polartec fleece, PrimaLoft synthetic insulation and Pertex lightweight shells.”

Schoeller fabrics, trusted by climbers, skiers and mountain athletes around the world, are engineered for dynamic movement in situations where performance matters. Schoeller’s renowned Nanosphere® technology is highly effective at repelling water, dirt and oil, is naturally self-cleaning and adds a high level of additional abrasion resistance. Nanosphere is incredibly long lasting and withstand the effects of multiple washings.

Polartec is a global leader in performance fabrics. The Polartec collection will include three unique textiles ranging from fully protective to highly insulative to optimally breathable. The Black Diamond collection includes silhouettes made from Polartec Windbloc® fabric, as well as a unique, new version of Power Stretch®, and an experiment in thermal comfort and moisture transport with an exciting new development using Polartec High Efficiency® Power Dry®.

The PrimaLoft collection will showcase synthetic insulation with two distinct fill technologies that are best-in-class. For serious athletic endeavors in winter climates, PrimaLoft Synergy® and PrimaLoft One® insulation technologies will offer core warmth and protection from the elements. Pertex shell fabrics will complement this series combining fabrics that are lightweight, strong and weather resistant.

Another key component of Black Diamond Equipment’s Fall 2013 apparel collection is the inclusion of RECCO® embedded technology. “As a company rooted in the creation of personal protective equipment and snow safety, partnering with RECCO was an obvious choice as we launch apparel,” states Bantle.

Black Diamond Equipment is also announcing its participation as a bluesign® system partner. “Participating as a bluesign system partner assures us that both the raw materials and production processes are optimized for resource productivity while ensuring environmental protection, worker health and safety, as well as end-consumer safety,” comments Jeff Nash, Vice President of Engineering Services at Black Diamond, Inc. and leader of materials engineering for the company.

Black Diamond Equipment’s Fall 2013 apparel line is intended to address the needs of alpinists in the same way its equipment has for decades. In conjunction with the forthcoming Outdoor Retailer Winter Market 2013, Black Diamond Equipment will be hosting an exclusive preview of the collection for retailers, media, investors and launch partners at the Natural History Museum on January 24, 2013.

Black Diamond Equipment is a manufacturer of equipment and clothing for climbing, skiing and mountain sports. By consistently building innovative, standard-setting products and actively preserving the mountain/canyon environment, Black Diamond Equipment has assumed a leadership role in the international outdoor community. For more information on Black Diamond Equipment, visit BlackDiamondEquipment.com