Arc'teryx

{{Infobox company

| name = Arc'teryx Equipment Inc

| logo = ARC'TERYX logo.svg

| type = Subsidiary

| slogan =

| founder = Dave Lane
Jeremy Guard

| foundation = 1989 as Rock Solid
1991 as Arc'teryx

| location = North Vancouver,
British Columbia, Canada

| num_locations = {{Unbulleted list|80+ branded stores|3,000+ retailers}}

| area_served = Worldwide

| industry = Technical apparel

| num_employees = 1,200 globally (2020)[https://newsroom.arcteryx.com/corporate-factsheet.htm Corporate factsheet], newsroom.arcteryx.com, May 01, 2018

| parent = Anta Sports

| divisions = {{Unbulleted list|PRO|Veilance}}

| homepage = {{URL|arcteryx.com}}

}}

Arc'teryx is a Chinese owned apparel company specializing in outdoor apparel and equipment headquartered in North Vancouver, British Columbia. It focuses on technical apparel for mountaineering and Alpine sports, including related accessories. The company's name and logo, created by graphic designer Michael Hofler,{{Cite web |last=Hofler |first=Michael |date=November 7, 2016 |title=Arc’teryx |url=https://www.behance.net/gallery/44865109/Arcteryx |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250214051204/https://www.behance.net/gallery/44865109/Arcteryx |archive-date=February 14, 2025 |access-date=February 14, 2025 |website=Behance}} reference the Archaeopteryx, the transitional fossil of early dinosaurs to modern dinosaurs (birds). Arc'teryx is known for its waterproof Gore-Tex shell jackets, knitwear, and down parkas.{{Cite news |last=Gallagher |first=Jacob |date=January 17, 2022 |title=Why Are All These People Showering in Their Arc'teryx Jackets? |language=en-US |work=Wall Street Journal |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/why-are-all-these-people-showering-in-their-arcteryx-jackets-11642422998 |access-date=June 18, 2022 |issn=0099-9660}}{{Cite news |last=Gallagher |first=Jacob |date=January 2, 2021 |title=Gorpcore: How Arc'teryx Parkas and Salomon Hiking Boots Became High Fashion |language=en-US |work=Wall Street Journal |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/gorpcore-how-arcteryx-parkas-and-salomon-hiking-boots-became-high-fashion-11609563600 |access-date=June 18, 2022 |issn=0099-9660}}

Founded in 1989 as Rock Solid, the company re-branded in 1991 as Arc'teryx to produce outerwear and climbing gear for the Coast Mountains in Canada. The company was sold to Salomon Group in 2001 and Amer Sports in 2005. Arc'teryx maintains two divisions: Veilance, their luxury streetwear retailer and LEAF, their retailer of technical gear for law enforcement and military forces. The company is a major influence in the "gorpcore" and "normcore" fashion movements, the wearing of minimalist, technical apparel in urban settings.{{Cite web |last=Dacre |first=Karen |date=November 26, 2021 |title=Gorpcore trend peaks again as extreme outdoor wear hits pub and park |url=https://www.theguardian.com/fashion/2021/nov/26/gorpcore-trend-rises-as-extreme-outdoor-wear-hits-pub-and-park |access-date=June 18, 2022 |website=The Guardian |language=en}} The brand is colloquially known as "dead bird".{{Cite web |last=Magazine |first=Gripped |date=2015-04-16 |title=Inside Arc'teryx » Outdoor & Climbing Gear {{!}} Gripped Climbing Magazine |url=https://gripped.com/201304/inside-arcteryx/ |access-date=2024-06-03 |website=Gripped Magazine |language=en-US}}

History

File:Arc'teryx, 9 Mercer Street, London 01.jpg in July 2016]]File:Arc’teryx_in_Square_One_2022.jpg, Mississauga, Canada, 2022]]Originally named "Rock Solid" by co-founder Dave Lane, the company's first line of products was climbing gear.{{Cite web |last=Servantes |first=Ian |date=February 18, 2022 |title=Beyond the TikTok trend: How Arc'teryx became the It-brand of fashion |url=https://www.inverse.com/input/style/arcteryx-jacket-atom-lt-tiktok-trend-jil-sander-palace-collab-waterproof-insulated-jackets |access-date=January 14, 2023 |website=Input |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Hunt |first=Joshua |date=February 29, 2024 |title=Inside Arc'teryx's Explosive Growth—and Its Quest to Keep Its Soul |url=https://www.gq.com/story/arcteryx-profile |access-date=February 29, 2024 |website=GQ Magazine |language=en-US}} Dave Lane sold his 50% interest to Blair Murdoch and Tim Duholke who became silent partners in 1989. Then-principal and co-founder Jeremy Guard changed the company name to Arc'teryx in 1991. The name and logo reference the Archaeopteryx, the transitional fossil of early dinosaurs to modern dinosaurs (birds).{{Cite web |date=August 24, 2023 |title=Arc'teryx Naming Scheme |url=https://arcteryx.com/us/en/help/arc-naming#:~:text=Named%20the%20Archaeopteryx%20lithographica,%20the,is%20always%20a%20better%20way. |access-date=August 24, 2023 |website=Arc'teryx Equipment |language=en}} Guard chose the name to represent the idea of accelerating evolution as characterized by the geologic time scale of fossils. Guard was president and principal of the company from 1991 to 2001. Using a heat laminate (thermolamination) technology, the partners designed and marketed the Vapor harness, which would become the company's most popular item. In 1993, after a series of relocations and staff additions, Arc'teryx released the Bora backpack using the same Vapor technology. In 1996, the company introduced technical apparel featuring Gore-Tex after obtaining licenses from W. L. Gore & Associates. Arc'teryx re-located its headquarters to Burnaby, British Columbia in 1999 and then to North Vancouver in 2005.

In 2001, Arc'teryx was purchased by Salomon Group, a French subsidiary of the German retailer Adidas.Nowakowski, Natasha, [http://www.bizjournals.com/portland/stories/2002/11/11/story3.html "Arc'teryx a perfect fit for adidas' Salomon business"], The Portland Business Journal, November 8, 2002. In 2005, Arc'teryx was sold to Finnish retailer Amer Sports.Crane, Leah, [http://www.twsbiz.com/twbiz/features/article/0,21214,1091755,00.html "Salomon Sold to Amer Sports"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070310215958/http://www.twsbiz.com/twbiz/features/article/0%2C21214%2C1091755%2C00.html |date=March 10, 2007 }}, Transworld Business Magazine, August 9, 2005 In 2019, Chinese retailer Anta Sports bought a controlling stake (56%) in Amer.{{Cite news |last=Baigorri |first=Manuel |date=December 7, 2022 |title=Anta Sports Weighs IPO of Wilson Racket Maker Amer |language=en |work=Bloomberg.com |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-12-07/anta-sports-is-said-to-weigh-ipo-of-wilson-racket-maker-amer |access-date=January 3, 2023}} As their apparel line expanded Arc'teryx began manufacturing in international markets, specifically in China, the Philippines, Vietnam, Bangladesh, El Salvador, Laos, and Greece.{{Cite web|title=Supply Chain Partners {{!}} Arc'teryx|url=https://arcteryx.com/ca/en/explore/supply-chain-partners|access-date=2020-11-02|website=Arc'teryx Equipment|language=en}} Since the early 2020s, Arc'teryx has co-produced collections with high-fashion brands and designers which expanded their consumer market beyond outdoor enthusiasts.{{Cite web |last=Servantes |first=Ian |date=February 18, 2021 |title=Beyond the TikTok trend: How Arc'teryx became the It-brand of fashion |url=https://www.inputmag.com/style/arcteryx-jacket-atom-lt-tiktok-trend-jil-sander-palace-collab-waterproof-insulated-jackets |access-date=June 18, 2022 |website=Input |language=en}}

Divisions

Their garments, accessories, and apparel is organized into various product families differentiated by the Greek alphabet, e.g. Alpha, Beta, Delta, Gamma, Rho, Sigma, and Zeta.

Veilance: their luxury formal streetwear line was founded in 2009, branded as Arc'teryx Veilance.{{Cite web |title=10 Years of Performance Evolution {{!}} Veilance |url=https://veilance.com/us/en/about/10-years |access-date=2021-10-01 |website=Arc'teryx Equipment |language=en}}
LEAF: their Law Enforcement and Armed Forces (LEAF) line is aimed at the military and police market.{{Cite web |last=Cheng |first=Christina |date=January 21, 2014 |title=Arc'teryx Takes You Through the Process of Making its LEAF Collection |url=https://www.complex.com/style/2014/01/arcteryx-leaf-products-law-enforcement-armed-forces |access-date=January 14, 2023 |website=Complex |language=en}}

Subculture

Arc'teryx is seen as a high-end status symbol among youth, "just shy of Stone Island and Moncler."{{Cite web |last=Servantes |first=Ian |date=February 18, 2021 |title=Beyond the TikTok trend: How Arc'teryx became the It-brand of fashion |url=https://www.inputmag.com/style/arcteryx-jacket-atom-lt-tiktok-trend-jil-sander-palace-collab-waterproof-insulated-jackets |access-date=June 18, 2022 |website=Input |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Webb |first=Bella |date=May 4, 2022 |title=Early Majority: Fashion's first degrowth brand |url=https://www.voguebusiness.com/sustainability/early-majority-fashions-first-degrowth-brand |access-date=January 14, 2023 |website=Vogue Business |language=en-US}}{{Cite magazine |last=Newcomb |first=Tim |date=January 21, 2015 |title=High-end outdoor brand Arc'teryx launches footwear line |url=https://www.si.com/edge/2015/01/22/tech-talk-high-arcteryx-launches-footwear-line |access-date=August 25, 2023 |magazine=Sports Illustrated |language=en-us}} The Financial Times noted one of their largest demographics as "urbanites" in 2022.{{Cite news |last=Cook |first=Grace |date=August 31, 2022 |title=Vibram's path to becoming fashion's go-to sneaker sole |work=Financial Times |url=https://www.ft.com/content/dfce435f-22b7-4dc0-8cff-3a5a3d8a66ac |access-date=January 14, 2023}} Labeled a cult brand by Fast Company in 2021,{{Cite web |last=Beer |first=Jeff |date=February 19, 2021 |title=In this brutal winter, escape mentally with the cult brand Arc'teryx's first-ever surf film |url=https://www.fastcompany.com/90606548/in-this-brutal-winter-escape-mentally-with-the-cult-brand-arcteryxs-first-ever-surf-film |access-date=January 14, 2023}} Arc'teryx is worn by "[both] hikers and hype-beasts" according to The New York Times.{{Cite news |last=Testa |first=Jessica |date=November 7, 2021 |title=Jil Sander Ski Wear, Coming to a City Block Near You |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/11/07/style/jil-sander-ski-wear-coming-to-a-city-block-near-you.html |access-date=January 14, 2023 |issn=0362-4331}}

The company is a major influence in the "gorpcore" and "normcore" fashion movements – the wearing of minimalist, outdoor apparel in urban settings, along with Mammut, REI, Marmot and Patagonia.{{Cite web |last=Gallagher |first=Jacob |date=January 1, 2021 |title=Gorpcore: How Arc'teryx Parkas and Salomon Hiking Boots Became High Fashion |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/gorpcore-how-arcteryx-parkas-and-salomon-hiking-boots-became-high-fashion-11609563600 |access-date=January 14, 2021 |website=WSJ |language=en-US}} Throughout 2022, a TikTok trend emerged where individuals would shower, fully clothed with an Arc'teryx jacket, as British rapper YT's song "Arc'teryx" played in the background. Arc'teryx is a staple of Generation Z and zillennial fashion, particularly in the U.S. and Canada.{{Cite journal |last=O'Connor |first=Michael |date=March 3, 2021 |title=How functional outdoor clothing became fashion's next big thing |url=https://www.rte.ie/brainstorm/2021/0323/1205581-gorpcore-functional-outdoor-clothing-canada-goose-north-face-arcteryx/ |journal=TU Dublin |language=en |access-date=August 23, 2023}}{{Cite web |last=Ortiz |first=Gerald |date=January 16, 2023 |title=A complete, gorp-nerd's guide to Arc'teryx jackets |url=https://www.gq-magazine.co.uk/fashion/article/arcteryx-jacket-guide |access-date=August 27, 2023 |website=British GQ |language=en-GB}}{{Cite web |last=Sidell |first=Misty White |date=March 21, 2023 |title=Arc'teryx Opens Up About Growth Strategy, With U.S. Seen Key |url=https://wwd.com/business-news/retail/arcteryx-opens-up-about-growth-strategy-with-u-s-seen-key-1235587942/ |access-date=August 27, 2023 |website=WWD |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Mussen |first=Maddy |date=April 4, 2023 |title=Unpacking Gen Z's obsession with pickles |url=https://uk.sports.yahoo.com/news/unpacking-gen-z-obsession-pickles-144659885.html |access-date=August 26, 2023 |website=Yahoo Sports |language=en-GB |quote=It’s not often that Goretex, Tekla, Stussy and Arc’teryx are mentioned in the same breath as dill pickles, and yet they’re rapidly reaching a similar status. That’s right, the newest obsession among taste-making, metropolitan Gen Z-ers.}} Luxury fashion houses that have minimalist aesthetics collaborate with Arc'teryx to produce capsule collections, according to The New York Times and GQ.{{Cite news |last=Testa |first=Jessica |date=July 11, 2021 |title=Jil Sander Ski Wear, Coming to a City Block Near You |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/11/07/style/jil-sander-ski-wear-coming-to-a-city-block-near-you.html |access-date=August 27, 2023 |issn=0362-4331}}