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Japanese outdoor brand Snow Peak joined the Nordic Outdoor ranks at the beginning of 2021 and became an instant hit with customers and staff alike. With the world just emerging from a pandemic the equipment that the brand offered allowed us to see the possibility of spending time in nature, around a fire, and with friends.
For 2022 we’ve taken our relationship with the Japanese brand to another level with the addition of the clothing collection for Spring Summer. Showcasing the same attention to detail you may see in the hinge element of the folding table, and the same rugged durability of the Takibi Fireplace – this is clothing for people who make the outdoor their everyday. Japanese design sensibilities closely mirror those seen throughout Scandinavia and for that reason Snow Peak seemed like a natural addition to the Nordic Outdoor roster.
With the first arrivals from Snow Peak Spring Summer landing on the doorstep at Nordic HQ last week we thought it was the perfect time to revisit the story of the Japanese brand with a cult following and also examine what the new collection has on offer for us.
The Snow Peak Story
The history of Snow Peak can be traced back to Japanese city of Niigata which sits at the foot of a mountain range with altitudes of up to 8,051 feet. It was here that Yukio Yamai spent his days climbing the treacherous and rugged terrain and finding solace in the mountains. While spending time in the outdoors Yukio realised he was dissatisfied with the climbing gear which was available at the time and for this reason he began creating his own line of mountaineering products. Using the skills of friends and craftsmen from his hometown of Tsubame-Sanjo, Yukio began a journey which would eventually become Snow Peak.
Over the next few decades the Snow Peak brand grew in both size and popularity throughout Japan thanks to the lightweight, functional and durable products they were creating. When Yukio’s son Tohru joined the company in the 1970’s he brought with him the experience of road tripping round American during college and discovering the joys of car camping. It was this addition which shaped Snow Peak into the brand it is today and was responsible for a boom in car camping throughout Japan in the 80’s and 90’s.
Despite the size of Snow Peak it continued to thrive as a family owned business and in 2014 Yukio’s granddaughter Lisa joined the company. Having lived in Tokyo but regularly commuting back to Niigata to camp and spend time in nature Lisa began the Snow Peak apparel line to merge her passions of outdoor and fashion. With a clear vision, Snow Peak apparel became known for creating technical garments which allowed the wearer to easily move between the urban and natural environments – much like Lisa had become accustomed to.
The Snow Peak Way
Snow Peak have a simple philosophy which moulds everything they do, this philosophy is called the Snow Peak Way;
“At Snow Peak, we treasure every individual’s initiative. By joining forces in absolute trust, we work to achieve global leadership, elevating the essential life values inspired by being with nature.
We are always evolving, always innovating, always creating new approaches.
Our philosophy is that we are all users, so we provide customers with rich experiences that inspire us all.
We are committed to having a positive impact on the planet.”
Snow Peak Clothing Spring Summer 22 Collection
For Spring Summer 2022 Snow Peak take inspiration from the life of Mr. Yuichiro Wakamatsu – a Mandarin farmer from the Japanese area of Uwajima. After studying at university in the Tokyo metropolitan area, he became obsessed with skateboarding and he now splices his city passion with his love of country living. Much like Snow Peak’s ethos, the clothing and gear were created to be able to interact with the natural environment, regardless of whether it's in a city or the country. After graduating from University Yuichiro returned to his home town of Uwajima to farm mandarins, missing his city skating culture he built a skate ramp in a barn and invited friends and locals, growing an organic community to enjoy this unconventional skating environment, “I wanted to create a place where these friends could stay in Uwajima and enjoy nature, harvest mandarin oranges and enjoy skating while communicating with local people”.
The Snow Peak clothing range is designed to allow users to find comfort in nature and this season continues with that aim. The SS22 collection features a new range of technical lightweight packable rain wear and Quick Dry coordinating garments made from 100% recycled polyester offering, perfect for changeable weather situations. New to the Snow Peak collection for SS22 is The Light Mountain Cloth collection. These garments are a relaxed fit for everyday wear, including a parka and coach jacket, natural colourways are contrasted with a pop of mandarin orange.
Throughout the new collection there are qualities that showcase Snow Peak’s attention to detail and dedication to producing garments that allow the wearer to feel comfortable whilst experiencing the outdoor world.
You can take a look at some of the images from Snow Peaks Spring Summer 22 lookbook below and shop the first arrivals from the apparel collection online here or shop the incredible Snow Peak Camping equipment here.