10.8 Million Pieces of Plastic Become Waste

[Asia Economy Reporter Yujin Cho] Short padding jackets are emerging as popular items this winter as well, following last year, riding the newtro trend. Environmentally friendly products that align with the consumption tendencies of the MZ generation, who value both style and value consumption, are gaining popularity.

Global outdoor brand The North Face is leading the eco-friendly fashion trend through its ‘Eco Fleece Collection,’ which recycles 10.8 million PET bottles. They introduced a new product, the ‘Eco Nuptse Jacket,’ which adds eco-friendly value by applying recycled materials to the ‘Nuptse Jacket,’ a beloved winter item worldwide for over 30 years, known for its excellent functionality and distinctive voluminous heritage design.

First launched in the U.S. and other regions in 1992, the Nuptse Jacket is The North Face’s signature product. Since its release, it has been consistently loved by outdoor enthusiasts and fashion people worldwide, with recent collaborations with global brands such as Gucci and Maison Margiela also standing out.

In Korea, the Nuptse Jacket has earned numerous nicknames such as ‘National Padding,’ ‘School Uniform Padding,’ and ‘Muscle Man Padding,’ establishing itself as an icon representing not only the outdoor industry but also the fashion industry since the late 2000s. It was also a representative steady seller that firmly led the short padding jacket craze alongside the retro trend during the long padding jacket frenzy ahead of the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympics.

This fall and winter season, it has evolved once again into an eco-friendly item by applying recycled polyester, recycled nylon, and recycled zippers.

The representative product, the ‘1996 Nuptse Jacket,’ was ranked 2nd among the ‘Best Fashion Items of Q4 2018’ selected by the popular UK online fashion community ‘List,’ standing at the pinnacle of short padding jacket popularity.

The ‘1996 Eco Nuptse Jacket,’ released this fall and winter season, applies recycled nylon outer fabric and recycled zippers to the unique design of the 1996 Nuptse Jacket, making it a hip eco item that satisfies the picky tastes of greensumers.

The Nuptse Jacket’s distinctive shoulder color blocking and voluminous design come in various colors such as yellow, orange, purple, and classic green, allowing choices that fit individual personalities. It also maximizes warmth by paying attention to details such as ethically certified down (RDS-certified premium goose down), sleeve cuffs, and hem strings.

A representative from Youngone Outdoor said, “The Eco Nuptse Jacket, which combines The North Face’s innovative technology with sincere efforts as an eco-friendly fashion trendsetter, will evolve beyond being a representative product of the short padding jacket craze to become an iconic product leading sustainable fashion. It is also highly popular as a must-have shopping item for overseas tourists visiting Korea due to its outstanding price competitiveness compared to the U.S. and Japan.”