[Edaily Reporter KYUNG GYEYOUNG ] As late-summer heat shortens autumn and erratic winter weather becomes the norm due to climate change, the outdoor industry is shifting its fall/winter (FW) flagship products toward lightweight down jackets. These jackets, made even lighter by using ultra-lightweight materials for the outer shell, are breaking the stereotype of being “middle-aged men’s clothing” and attracting consumers in their 20s and 30s.

According to industry sources on the 30th, major outdoor brands are unveiling outerwear lineups centered on lightweight down jackets. An industry official noted, “With climate change leading to recurring unpredictable weather, there is a growing need for items that can be worn from early fall through the depths of winter,” adding, “Demand for lightweight down jackets—which can be worn longer and more frequently—has risen over the past three years and is expected to peak this year.”

In particular, there is a growing trend toward making not only the filling lighter but also the outer fabric ultra-lightweight. This is because premium outdoor brands, including the Italian sportswear brand C.P. Company, have gained popularity by introducing products featuring thin 7-denier (D) outer fabrics.

The North Face, the leader in the outdoor industry, has successively released a lineup of lightweight down jackets, such as the “Ventus On Jacket” and “Wave On Jacket.” The Ventus On Jacket, which made its debut on the official online store on the 12th, has received a positive response, with key colors and sizes selling out on the day of its release.

K2 has increased its production volume of lightweight down products by 20% compared to last year. The company is highlighting the lightweight “Aerosphere Zero” down jacket—which features “Heat Dome” technology to prevent heat loss—and the “Alpaca Parka Kaya Down,” the industry’s first to use alpaca fiber in both the filling and outer shell. In addition, K2 plans to segment its fall/winter lineup—from transitional outerwear to lightweight, medium-weight, and heavy-duty down jackets—to cater to the season.

Black Yak has added the lightweight duck down “Climbing Stone Master Light Down Jacket” and the “Climbing Stone Master Light Padded Jacket,” which features ball-padding filling, to its best-selling “Climbing Stone Master Down Jacket” lineup. The Climbing Stone Master series has also been enhanced in style by expanding the range of color options while incorporating ultra-lightweight 7D fabric. The Stone Master Light Down Jacket, unveiled on Musinsa on the 3rd, sold 1,300 units within just one week of its pre-release, proving its popularity among people in their 20s and 30s.

NEPA, which sold out its lightweight padded jacket “THERMO-PUFF” last year, has expanded its lightweight down lineup this year. The brand has expanded its lightweight down options with products such as the “Air Summit Light,” characterized by a subtle sheen from its 10D fabric that allows the inner layer to show through, and the “Zello Down Series,” which includes a variety of styles such as stand-neck, hooded, vest, and short-sleeve down jackets. iA, Inc. has introduced the “Graphinum Down Series,” which uses graphene-infused functional yarn with excellent thermal conductivity, and the “Thermolock Slim Blend Down,” featuring the ultra-lightweight insulating material aerogel.

LF(093050)Teton Bros. plans to sequentially launch its “Alive” mountain collection—which enhances lightweight design, comfort, and versatility while retaining outdoor functionality—and its urban outdoor collection for running next month. The Alive collection will feature a diverse lineup ranging from premium down jackets to reasonably priced padded jackets.

#KOLON CORPORATION’s FnC Division is operating Kolon Sports, which is launching a product lineup that includes lightweight down, heavy-duty down, and fleece items. INNOX Corporation’s Helinox Wear, which has prepared approximately 80 items for this fall/winter season—an expansion from last year—also incorporates lightweight designs that bridge the gap between the outdoors and the city.

An industry insider noted, “Recently, lightweight padded jackets have been gaining attention as fashion items, thanks to a growing variety of colors and products that differentiate themselves through unique quilting, glossy or matte finishes, and ultra-lightweight fabrics that enhance the texture and silhouette of the outer shell.” The insider added, “Lightweight padded jackets have now established themselves as primary outerwear, rather than just thermal inner layers.”