12 Innovative Outdoor Brands from Korean You Should Know
Kolon Sport
Year Founded: 1973
Niche: Somewhere between a Korean REI and Veilance
Instagram: @_kolonsport
Kolon Sport is a classic Korean outdoor brand, established in 1973. Its clothes excel in a wide range of activities, including hiking, trail running, and backpacking. But the company doesn’t just make apparel—they make plenty of mountaineering and camping equipment, too. You can think of it like the Korean REI Co-op brand.
In 2020, the outdoor giant re-launched LTEKS, its minimal and technical capsule inspired by the retailer’s rich history. Carrying the DNA of mainline Kolon Sports, the collection serves as a bridge between outdoor wear and everyday clothing, infusing elements of the former with versatile apparel styles that can be worn to the office in the week and by the coast at the weekend. Trousers and outerwear are constructed using waterproof fabrics and feature an abundance of pockets while maintaining a versatile silhouette, and bags are designed with ergonomics in mind to hug the body.
More recently, Kolon Sports enlisted the aid of designer Jean-Luc Ambridge Lavelle to put a modernist spin on functional archetypes, producing an array of technical jackets, trousers, tops and more with Lavelle’s signature pattern-cutting and organic shapes.
Source: https://www.fieldmag.com/articles/korean-outdoor-brand-guide
