Urban Rock Climbing
Earlier this winter I was meeting up with one of my most stylish guy friends in his apartment just off Washington Sq. Park when he greeted me at the door in a house coat and a fresh pair of Scarpas. He claimed he was just wearing them around the house to see if the size was right, before ultimately deciding they were a pinch too small and needed to be returned to backcountry.com. The juxtaposition of such technical footwear in his cozy Manhattan apartment was initially comical, but then the following day I encountered the same pair of Scarpa shoes on a man also not engaged in hazardous activity, but perusing the halls of the Met! Felt like time The Assemblist dive into the question on everybody’s minds, “Is everyone getting into rock climbing?”
While styles such as “Gorpcore” and athleisure have been on the rise for years, the silhouettes of Gortex rain coats and leggings are often derived from “sport” as a broader theme versus a specific activity. The look and feel of these Scarpa shoes however were so specifically “rock-climby” that it felt like an entirely different thing. From then on we’ve been noticing increasingly more content relating to rock climbing’s influence in mainstream culture and fashion. Posts such as influencers styling the Keen Jaspers, brands shooting their campaigns with climbing boulders, Curbed highlighting the community of rock climbers in Central Park, footwear paralleling the actual climbing shoes you can rent for an afternoon at VITAL, and designers such as Nicole McLaughlin being inspired by the utilitarian nature of “Gorpcore” materials are just some examples of this trend taking off.
Continue reading to check out Brand Assembly’s roundup of pop culture’s recent rock climbing moments, and stay tuned to see if elements of this style climb their way into our upcoming shows.
Michelle Li promoting the Keen “Jasper”
Nicole McLaughlin
This article about Nicole McLaughlin’s approach to design paired with these awesome photos by OK McCausland states, “A climber since 2016, she has long been drawn to “gorpcore” materials: fragments of fleeces, off-cuts of ripstop and tangles of zippers, cords and carabiners. “Outdoor gear has a very tactile, utilitarian feel, with pockets, bright colors and carabiners where you can attach things…”” she said. “My pieces may not look functional, but they are and I like surprising people with that.”
Curbed Features Bouldering Community in Central Park
This article with photos by Ali Cherkis highlights the history of bouldering in NYC’s Central Park as well as the explosive growth of the sport during the pandemic. Additionally, it features some of the park’s most accomplished athletes such as Ashima Shiraishi (wearing Yanyan Knits). According to Curbed she is widely considered one of the best climbers in the world!
Footwear with Rock Climber Flair
Gramicci x And Wander
We love these visuals to promote the recent launch of the Gramicci X And Wander collab. Gramicci, which was started in the 80’s by rock climbers from California, gained popularity in the community for its elastic waistband and webbed nylon belt inspired by backpack straps that could be adjusted with one hand. Nearly 40 years later the brand remains true to its roots in both quality and aesthetic, reaching massive audience in skate and climbing culture as well as in Japan.
Whether you’re out there scaling boulders or walking around an art museum in Scarpas, we’re here for this sporty lifestyle and the awesome design that stems from it.
Get ready to see some climbing inspired gear at our upcoming Brand Assembly Shows!
LOS ANGELES June 17 - 19 RSVP HERE, NYC September 2024 (DETAILS COMING SOON!)
Rock on!