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The North American Winners of the Polartec APEX Awards, the Future of Outerwear Design (Sponsored)

While Polartec pushes the boundaries of fabric science, they rely on the inspiration of designers and developers to realize the beautiful shapes their fabrics can truly become. For nearly 20 years, the Polartec APEX Awards has recognized this collaboration by honoring the design teams who utilize Polartec fabrics to push boundaries and usher in the future of outerwear design.

To announce the 2016 winners, Polartec enlisted the help of specially designed android mannequins and the photography of Chris Hornbecker. Together with a team of veteran character and special effect artists, fabricators, digital artists, and stylists, Hornbecker’s energetic and emotional photography transforms mortal models into futuristic figures. Shot in and around Portland, Oregon, including the campus of Lewis & Clark College and Timberline Lodge on Mt. Hood, the images highlight the forward-looking nature of the Apex Award-winning garments as they exist within native outdoor and urban settings.

This year’s seven North American Apex Award Winners:

   — Reebok – Polartec Alpha Lightweight Warmth Jacket, designed by Ashlie Malouin
   — Nike – Aerolayer Men’s Golf Vest, designed by James Drew, Scott Hutsenpiller, Abby Swancutt
   — Louis Garneau – Cove Hybrid Jacket & Rocket Skirt, Designed by Patrick Cote & Virginie Locat
   — DragonWear – Elements Flak Jacket, designed by Rosalie Lovett & Emelia Black
   — Altra – Lone Peak Neoshell 3.0 Mid, designed by Steven Shorten
   — Molosser – Aegis All-Weather Dog Jacket, designed by Larry Cockrell & Larry Herman
   — Reigning Champ – Ripstop Insulated Bomber Jacket, designed by Tung Vo

Polartec is the modern descendent of a century-old New England mill. From knits, wool and upholstery, to supplying military uniforms since World War I, Polartec earned its outdoor cred as the inventor of the original synthetic fleece that brought together function and fashion in the 1980s. Today, Polartec is the inventor of performance fabrics that breathe, regulate temperature, resist fire, and can even originate from upcycled plastic bottles.

Learn more about the Polartec Apex Awards, and this year’s winners, at apex.polartec.com.

This post was sponsored by Polartec.