Romy Koles, Apparel Innovator
With a history working on some of the most iconic outerwear on the market today, Romy Koles is no stranger to softgoods innovation. But her next chapter will be powered by microalgae. Salt Lake City, UT. Photo: Pep Fujas (@pepfujas)
Who are you and what do you do?
I’m Romy Koles, Soft Goods Product Manager here at Checkerspot and WNDR Alpine!
What’s your background within the outdoor industry?
After finishing my degree in Textile Sciences at University of Manitoba, I moved back to British Columbia to start my career as a Material Developer at Arc’teryx Equipment. My first role involved material testing & validation, which grew my knowledge of what it takes to make really durable, high performance materials and garments.
Understanding the ins and outs of the textile industry and what it takes to build pinnacle products became the backbone of every decision and step. It was crucial at this point to acknowledge the changes that took place when you made a better material in lieu of virgin petroleum products.
Salt Lake City, UT. Photo: Pep Fujas (@pepfujas)
At the peak time for the push from traditional materials to more responsible ones (adoption of PFC-free durable water repellent finishes, switching from virgin materials to recycled ones, and biobased alternatives to animal-derives inputs), I was working directly with some of the world’s leading suppliers to validate these items.
It was really hard. But despite many challenges, it was really incredible to see how far these projects have come and how many brands want to adopt more responsible inputs. Consumers, especially in the outdoor industry, are seeking better materials to be a bit nicer to our planet - provided the performance of the product is there.
I really wanted to be more hands on and be part of the solution, which led to many remote conversations, brainstorms, and scheming with Matt Sterbenz.
I officially joined the Checkerspot/WNDR Alpine crew in May 2021, only a couple days after moving from Vancouver to Utah. Now I get to be involved in the material development at the core of our microalgae finishes and be able to bring those finishes to life in our WNDR Alpine products.
How do you feel about the current state of the apparel industry?
Let’s be honest, the apparel industry is not kind to our planet. From yarn extrusion to dye processing, there are not many steps that leave the environment better off.
Are we going to stop wearing clothes? No. So I made a commitment that if I was to continue working in this industry, I would have to make better choices and somehow influence how we make products. I want to make smart decisions from the fiber type to the finish.
Obviously we just announced our intent to release products featuring miDori bioWick® - the first ever wicking finish made with microalgae oil. Can you explain what wicking is and how it keeps us comfortable?
In the world of apparel, wicking is the process of moisture diffusion through the fabric’s fibers. The quicker the moisture can transfer through the garment, the quicker the drying time will be. So good wicking performance equals greater comfort. Wicking finishes are kind of the unsung heroes of activewear.
Salt Lake City, UT. Photo: Pep Fujas (@pepfujas)
What’s the game plan for WNDR Alpine apparel?
The beauty of microalgae oil is that it can be applied in so many different ways. We’ve done so much with this oil in the materials found in my BelleTour splitboard, but there are so many other possibilities when it comes to softgoods.
The algae oil-derived miDori bioWick® wicking finish that we now have enables low carbon, high performance apparel that you can use in all kinds of outdoor situations beyond skiing and snowboarding. So without revealing too much, I’m excited to introduce algae into more elements of our community’s lives.
Many of us would love to have a pair of pants that were comfortable, not unflattering, and functional for hiking, biking, rock climbing, backpacking—is that possible or do you end up with conflicting features?
Sure, compromise is inherent to product design. While we all want versatility and functionality in our everyday apparel, most of us don’t want a pair of dorky cargo pants with heaps of zippers and pockets all over the place.
My approach stems from a philosophy of visual minimalism, with lots of subtle, nearly hidden features that you have to touch and experience to fully appreciate. More to come on that!
Salt Lake City, UT. Photo: Pep Fujas (@pepfujas)
How does it feel to be creating outdoor apparel with ingredients from microalgae?
Really incredible and humbling. Setting out the endeavor to introduce new materials and products that are a compromise-free replacement for petroleum finishes is so inspiring.
This is just a starting point and we still have so much work to do. But iteration is the pathway for change. I can’t wait to share more of our creations with the WNDR Alpine community.
What did Romy build?