One of my favorite aspects of being in the outdoor industry is the thrill of watching a new brand emerge—especially if they’ve got some new technology or fresh take on style that makes you stop and say, “Yeah, outdoors needs this!”
That’s how I feel about 3Bird, a new apparel brand out of Jackson Hole, Wyoming that adds enough pop and style to the mountain town aesthetic that when you put it on you feel like you’re stepping out of the standard wool shirt and blue jeans woodwork.
Image courtesy of 3Bird
I was lucky to get a couple pieces to test this spring and wearing them around Santa Fe kind of felt like listening to one of your favorite songs on vinyl again, with just a little more soul in the moment.
From long sleeve shirts to pants, shorts, outerwear and some super soft tees and hoodies, 3Bird offers a curated collection of reliable—and sustainably built—apparel that will quickly roll into your regular lineup.
As the brand says, “Our pursuit is to dampen the noise of telling you what you need by delivering what you want—sustainable, high-quality, everyday apparel that wears in, not out.”
Image courtesy of 3Bird
The three founders of 3Bird also have some serious outdoor apparel bonafides, having pioneered and created landmark outdoor gear with other brands in the past.
Here, Gear Institute sat down with Co-Founder and CEO Noah Robertson to talk about 3Bird’s flight path.
Why launch now?
We were ready. Our collection is very balanced from a seasonality perspective, so we had some flexibility for the timing of our launch.
Where do you see the most immediate opportunity?
Anytime you launch something new, the immediate opportunity is within your own community, your professional network, and of course, friends and family. We collectively have over 70 years of experience in the industry, so the excitement of being new is real, but we must build a strong foundation in order to support our customers and future retail partners.
How do you guys explain the brand to consumers or retail partners who are hearing about 3Bird for the first time?
3Bird is about people, their stories, and delivering a collection of apparel that is part of your personal brand. We believe clothes are more than just what we wear…they help shape the most powerful memories of our lives.
Image courtesy of 3Bird
You have a lot of experience in making and selling outdoor apparel in the room, how did that lead to this new business coming together?
It’s funny to think through this a bit, but in the end, it simply lined up with the right people. We’ve always been passionate about what we do. I think we have a little unfinished business, have learned a lot, and are focused on doing it right.
Any fun company origin stories to share?
It started by thinking about the change of seasons and the first sign of spring when you hear the birds singing from your open window. The inverse, of course, happens when you see the birds migrating south as winter approaches. This emotion led us to the Belted Kingfisher as a distinctive local bird with its shaggy crested head, annual residence to long distance migration, and always around some body water, including lakes, rivers, or oceans.
It is not an easy task coming up with a brand name in today’s world with all the informational access. In the end, I’ll give credit to my 19-year-old daughter, who said, “What about 3Bird” over the phone one day. I put it on the list, shared it with the others, and day after day it simply rose to the top.
What are there two or three products that really define the 3Bird launch?
Hard to pick just three but the Woolie Shacket, Migration Collection, and Tidal Knit Shirt are certainly special products.
Image courtesy of 3Bird
Check it out: https://3bird.com
3Bird Launches with Distinct Style, Timeless Appeal originally appeared on Gear Institute.