Community is more important than ever, and we’ve never been more proud of the OvR Outdoor Industry Family!
We miss all the awesome guests, crew and family who make OvR what it is. Despite the cliche, we really do stand together and you don’t have to look far to be inspired by efforts of the outdoor industry amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.
Much of business remains on pause, but community never takes a break. Action is what this community is all about, so in unprecedented times, those who act have found ways to pivot and offer support to those supporting us. You may or may not be aware of efforts by the outdoor industry. Regardless, we recognize and thank our friends at The North Face, Burton, Arc’teryx & Patagonia – Leaders in the outdoor industry tho lead by example.
When you head to the top of the mountain in the dead of winter or hike deep into the wildness to setup a remote camp, the proper gear can make or break you. When you climb, bike, surf, raft, skate or even just take a simple day hike, you need to stay protected from the elements. When we head out, we’re proud to support and receive support from these aforementioned best brands in the game.
The public health crisis brought on by COVID-19 quickly reached beyond the scope of anything our healthcare system had been prepared to support. When it became apparent those in most need of protection from elements were our frontline healthcare workers, the best brands in the game showed to support our supporters.
These healthcare workers are our brothers and sisters, mothers and fathers, daughters and sons. Many of which are the skiers, snowboarders, campers, climbers, bikers, surfers, rafters, skaters and hikers that join us regularly. This is our community and we recognize and thank you all!
THE NORTH FACE
The North Face and The Renewal Workshop had previously partnered to help manufacture renewed products. Pre-pandemic, this effort helped to keep more items of clothing in circulation and out of landfills. During this crisis, they activated their Explore Fund donations to extend this partnership and focus those renewable products to make general protection gowns.
Furthermore, they’ve extended their efforts to directly thank and hookup frontline healthcare workers with a STEEP discount. In their own words:
As a small show of our heartfelt gratitude for their dedication and bravery in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, from April 14, 2020 to Dec. 31, 2020 we will be giving a 50% discount to healthcare workers in the United States. This discount can be used for the purchase of certain non-sale items on thenorthface.com and at The North Face-owned retail stores in the United States. During this same period we will also be offering these individuals a 10% discount on non-clearance items at our outlet stores in the United States. Exclusions Apply.
This discount is available to Healthcare Workers who are directly responsible for keeping us safe at this time. Included professions are: doctors, nurses, technicians, medical researchers, hospital workers etc. Please apply to confirm your eligibility.
For all those interested and eligible, GET MORE DETAILS HERE.
ARC’TERYX
Due to the mass shortage of available gowns, Arc’teryx collaborated directly with local health authorities, manufacturing and design partners. The result was the creation of a prototype and the development of a reusable medical gown with some of the highest quality and tech materials available.
Pulling in the full resources of the Arc’teryx Design Centre, ARC’One, a team of sewers, engineers, sample and pattern makers delivered gowns from concept to reality.
Inspired by the collaborative nature of this work, manufacturers around the world are now able to access the pattern, design and technical specifications of this gown. Their hope is this open source pattern will enable more manufacturing outlets to bring these gowns to more and more communities in need. GET MORE DETAILS HERE.
PATAGONIA
Action and activism is at the heart of the Patagonia mission. With the help of the Patagonia family in NYC, we’ve been able to raise awareness and funds to help support several local environmental causes using Action Works. The spirit of support and sustainability lives in the same fibers they use to make their clothing.
It was certainly no surprise when Patagonia was amongst the first to step in and take action. What some may find surprising, despite easy going appearance their clothing presents, Patagonia owns and operates one of the most advanced Research & Development Facilities in the country, known as “The Forge”. This facility nurtures prototype and concepts long before they become the gear you know, meticulously testing fabrics, heavy with innovation. This high tech facility was completely transformed into a face mask factory.
Always mindful of the environment and in line with their common practices, Patagonia is using fabrics they already had on hand and in surplus. The result has been highly functional and extremely durable face masks. Their design employs their Nano-Air® technology into face fabric paired with a their Capilene® polyester lightweight lining. As we approach the summer months, concerns have grown on how discipline the public can remain while wearing masks as the temperature rises. These designs are producing comfortable, durable and reusable civilian mask options.
Of course, Patagonia wouldn’t rest with the production of these converted fabrics. They’ve gone above and beyond with programs like Worn Wear to help repair, share and recycle gear. In that spirit, they’ve already repaired 20,000 N95 medical masks damaged in a wildfire. These masks now have new life and there is no doubt any opportunity like this will further come to reality as the opportunity presents itself.
Another notable decision was their head on approach to the financial reality of their business. Patagonia closed all their stores on March 13th, long before most retailers shut their doors. At that time, they vowed to pay all their employees despite the huge economic impact when business was abruptly interrupted.
BURTON
With a huge presence in snowboarding, Burton is a global company, so they’ve taken to a global response. That said, they are also homegrown with roots in NYC and across the East Coast. The Burton NYC Store has often served as one of out unofficial OvR Headquarters Burton is proud to call Vermont their home and headquarters. With a good ear to the streets locally, they’ve been right there and in-step in our community, while still scaling to help aide the global response.
Completely flipping Craig’s Prototype Facility in Burlington, VT, Burton stopped manufacturing snowboards and started making face shields.
Rolling into May, Burton produced roughly 6,600 reusable face-shield brims and about 21,000 shields in North America. Shield kits were sent out primarily to Boston Children’s Hospital and UVM Medical Center, with some additional, smaller local distributions. In Europe, Burton has vast resources, currently working together with a local face shield producer in Tyrol, Austria to distribute equipment to local educational and healthcare facilities.
In late March, the dire reality of the healthcare system became apparent as healthcare workers took to the front lines ill equipped. Goggles for Docs was founded to help collect and distribute used and new goggles to be used for eye protection in our hospitals for doctors and nurses. Burton was one of the first to support and raise awareness, donating over 1,600 Anon Optics goggles to the Goggles for Docs. Although supplies have dramatically increases since March, you can still help and donate new or used goggles to the effort. GET MORE DETAILS HERE.
Burton as long supported outdoor industry professionals obtain the best available deals on gear through their Performer Program. They’re now extending the Burton Performer family to include those who work in the healthcare industry. In their own words:
By joining the program, you’ll receive 50% off all Burton products, so when you’ve made it through the front lines, you can enjoy your own line in the mountains. If you don’t work in the healthcare industry, but know someone who does, let them know so we can help as many people as possible.
Take Pride in Being a Part of this Outdoor Industry Family
Support the Supporters!!!