WOMEN’S HIKING GEAR COMPANY HIKERKIND LAUNCHES SS22, ITS FIRST FULL FOUNDATIONAL COLLECTION
Hikerkind releases their first system of dressing equipping women on the trail.
New York, New York - June 10, 2022: Hikerkind, the New York-based women’s hiking gear company and NYC Hike Club, today announces the release of the SS22 Collection — its first-ever full foundational collection. Building on the successes of previous pilot launches, the 2022 release is a uniform and system of dressing that includes the Base Bra_01, Base Shorts_01, Dress_01, Shirt_01, Midlayer_01, Shorts_01, Trousers_01 and select accessories.
The SS22 Collection is the first full release from Hikerkind and is another step closer to fully realizing the brand’s vision of equipping women with everything they need to experience the outdoors and feel confident on trail. “We have always had a specific approach to dressing on trail. We look at it as a uniform, a system of dressing, wearing the same thing every day. This is what we wanted to capture in our first collection,” says Hikerkind co-founder Allison Levy of the launch. “The idea that you have all the fundamental pieces you need and nothing more — this is what the collection is based on.”
Everything will be available to purchase on hikerkind.com and by appointment at Hikerkind’s new retail space in its Brooklyn studio.
The Inspiration Behind the Launch
The inspiration for the SS22 Collection was pulled from a diverse set of influences, including some of the world’s best long-distance hiking trails and the androgynous approach to dressing of Annemarie Schwarzenbach. “Since Hikerkind’s inception, our design inspiration has been women dressing for outdoor recreation in the 30s, 40s and 50s, and the way in which they looked like themselves on and off the trail,” says Hikerkind co-founder Chelsea Rizzo. “Annemarie was a natural progression because, to us, she embodied what it means to dress for yourself. There is great power in that.” Dressing for yourself and not through, or for the male gaze was considered in the creation of each piece of gear.
The color palette is inspired by the Appalachian Trail, The Continental Divide Trail and the Pacific Crest Trail, three of the most famous and inspirational long-distance hiking trails in the US. Hikerkind referenced the flora, fauna, colors of the mountains, rocks, dirt, sky at different times of day, and the overall feeling of being on sections of those trails to select a series of colors that are at home in nature and your wardrobe.
Kristen wears Shirt_01 + Trousers_01 of the PCT colorway
The SS22 Collection
The collection’s eight on- and off-trail staples deliver on Hikerkind’s brand mission of building confidence in women outdoors and continue to challenge the predetermined “hiker” mold. Each piece complements the wearer and considers what makes them feel most confident and equipped on trail, further working to create a place where anyone can come as themselves and explore natural areas near and far.
All of the clothing is made in New York City, using sustainable materials and practices wherever possible. Hikerkind aims to create the least amount of waste by designing gear intended to last.
Base Bra_01: The Base Bra_01 is designed intentionally for hiking and features a high neck, a wide racerback, an elastic waistband for more coverage, and offers straps in a backpack-friendly width. Think of it as a pullover hiking base layer top, intended to be worn with the Base Shorts_01 as a set on their own, or underneath Dress_01. It can also be paired with Trousers_01 or Shorts_01 as a shirt.
Fabric: Carvico Vita 390 Econyl, a 78% recycled polyamide, and 22% elastane material. It is also OEKO-TEX certified and features warp and weft stretch as well as a soft-hand feel.
Colors: Resin, Conifer, and Truffle (shown)
Sizes: XS-XL
Price: $78.00
Base Shorts_01: The Base Shorts_01 are a base layer hiking staple meant to be worn along with Base Bra_01 as a set on their own, paired with Shirt_01 or underneath Dress_01. It features a 6” inseam, 4.5” waistband height and high rise fit, flatlock seams for comfort, and an envelope phone pocket.
Fabric: Carvico Vita 390 Econyl, a 78% recycled polyamide, and 22% elastane material. It is also OEKO-TEX certified and features warp and weft stretch as well as a soft-hand feel.
Colors: Resin, Conifer, and Truffle (shown)
Sizes: XS-XL
Price: $88.00
Dress_01: This is the first short sleeve dress made intentionally for hiking. It’s designed to be paired with Base Bra_01 and Base Short_01, and is a reinterpretation of the standard exercise dress. Dress_01 features backpack-friendly short sleeves with a wide opening, an invisible side zipper, a round neck opening (that hides Base Bra_01 worn underneath), and a mini-length kick flared A-Line skirt.
Fabric: 86% recycled nylon, 14% elastane material that offers quick-dry and antimicrobial properties. It is also OEKO-TEX and Scope certified, and offers abrasion resistance as well as a Poplin four-way stretch.
Colors: Anther, Laurel (shown), and Morel
Sizes: XS-XL
Price: $142.00
Shirt_01: This lightweight long sleeve hiking shirt is intended to be worn as a layer of sun protection. It’s a classic button-down with the signature Hikerkind rounded collar. The design includes fitted shoulders, a two-button opening wide cuff, and a straight body fit with a curved hem.
Fabric: 94% recycled nylon, 6% Spandex material that offers moisture-wicking and antimicrobial properties. It’s also Bluesign® certified with two-way stretch and a soft-hand feel.
Colors: Buckwheat, Crownshy (shown), and Steershead
Sizes: XS-XL
Price: $128.00
Available for pre-sale June 10. Ship date July 15.
Shorts_01: The Shorts_01 are a lightweight flared hiking short. The design includes a 12'' high rise, flat front, elastic back waistband, and a wide flare leg opening. It also features two front pockets and two back pockets, one of which includes a button closure to protect more precious items. All four pockets are deep enough to fit a smartphone.
Fabric: 37% polyester, 53% recycled polyester and 10% Spandex that has been treated with C0 DWR — a vegetable-based, water-repelling technology. It’s Bluesign® certified fabric, is durable and breathable with four-way stretch, and offers a double weave.
Colors: Jasper (shown), Olivine, and Garnet
Sizes: XS-XL + 1X-3X
Price: $135.00
Trousers_01: Inspired by workwear, this hiking pant includes a 12'' high rise, flat front, elastic back waistband, and a straight leg silhouette. Trousers_01 also features two front pockets and two back pockets, one of which includes a button closure to protect more precious items. All four pockets are deep enough to fit a smartphone.
Fabric: 37% Polyester, 53% recycled polyester and 10% Spandex that has been treated with C0 DWR — a vegetable-based, water-repelling technology.It’s Bluesign® certified fabric, is durable and breathable with four-way stretch, and offers a double weave.
Colors: Jasper (shown), Olivine, and Garnet
Sizes: XS-XL + 1X-3X
Price: $168.00
Midlayer_01: Intended to be worn as an insulation layer on top of a shirt or under a jacket, the Midlayer_01 is the perfect versatile trail layer. It’s designed to equip the wearer on trail, at the campsite, or in town after a hike. It features a three-button closure, kangaroo pocket with interior smaller item pocket, an adjustable bungee hem, blouson sleeves with elastic binding cuffs, and diamond underarm gussets for enhanced movement when wearing a backpack.
Fabric: Polartec® Power Air™, a 92% recycled polyester fabric that sheds five times fewer microfibers than a typical fleece. This prevents fewer microfibers from entering natural water sources without compromising on durability, warmth efficiency, and breathability. It’s a lightweight, mid-warmth solid jersey grid with insulating air capsulation technology that traps warmth. It is also Bluesign® certified, offers four-way stretch and soft-hand feel, and is finished off with Corozo buttons for the closure.
Colors: Alpenglow, Lichen, and Redwood (shown)
Sizes: XS-3X
Price: $188.00
Available for pre-sale June 10. Ship date August 15.
Water Bottle_01: The Water Bottle_01 is a 32-oz Nalgene™ water bottle printed with the “You Are Here” graphic and Hikerkind logo (which is smaller than the previous 01 version). It’s meant to replace disposable water bottles and help keep hikers hydrated both on trail and off. It features a narrow mouth opening that makes it easier to drink from on trail, and the attached screw-on loop top will never get lost. It's leak-proof, made in the US and nearly indestructible.
Material: 100% BPA-free, recyclable Tritan plastic
Price: $18.00
Adirondack Mountains, New York
Dress_01 + Base Shorts_01
Hike Club
Beyond offering gear to equip women recreating outdoors, Hikerkind also offers a community to get out on hikes in the New York City area and recreate responsibly on lands stolen from Munsee Lenape, Wappinger, Mohican, Schaghticoke and Haudenosaunee ingigenous people. With a full calendar of events from May through October, Hikerkind Hike Club is a reliable program of hikes and educational content that brings people together at a time when human connection is what we’re all looking for. “In New York, we found it challenging to find a hiking community. When we launched Hikerkind Hike Club last spring, what we found was that the time spent getting to know each other was what kept people joining week after week,” says Rizzo. By offering curated hikes and transportation, it’s never been easier to escape the summer heat of New York City and take to the trail. “It takes a lot of effort to plan a hike if you live in NYC — with Hikerkind Hike Club, we have done all the planning for you,” adds Levy. “All of our efforts with Hikerkind and Hikerkind Hike Club are to break down barriers of entry for women in their exploration of the outdoors.”
Most of the events are accessible by public transit, and for those that aren’t, Hikerkind offers a coach at a fee for round-trip transportation. The full calendar of events can be found on the Hike Club webpage.
About the Brand
Founded by hikers and former fashion stylists Allison Levy and Chelsea Rizzo, Hikerkind is challenging the “hiker” archetype by creating clothing options for women hikers that offer both aesthetics and performance.
Allison and Chelsea started their careers working in the fashion industry and bonded over their mutual love for the outdoors. Allison has been hiking for as long as she can remember all over the world. Chelsea, who was new to hiking until she thru-hiked the Colorado Trail in 2018, was set to hike the Pacific Crest Trail in 2020 before the pandemic hit. During quarantine, Allison approached Chelsea to take an idea they had been kicking around since they met to the next level, and in October of 2020, they started Hikerkind.
Hikerkind is a women’s hiking gear company and New York City-based hiking club rooted in community. The brand creates clothing and accessories that offer both aesthetics and performance, dismantling the myth that the two cannot coexist and abolishing the ongoing pressure to fit into what is the predetermined “hiker” mold.
Hikerkind’s Co-Founders Allison Levy + Chelsea Rizzo
For further information on Hikerkind and Hikerkind Hike Club, please visit: www.hikerkind.com.
Project Credits:
Photographer: Jonathan Tasker / Imprimere
Creative Director: Callum Walker
Hikers:
Maria Nuñez photographed in The Adirondacks, New York
Kristen Misthopoulos photographed in Joshua Tree, California
Kylie Yang photographed in Boise, Idaho
Assistant to Co-Founders: India Chudnow
Contact
hello@hikerkind.com
www.hikerkind.com
@hikerkind #hikerkind
