Lowe Alpine will end the production of clothing next year
Next year’s clothing range from Lowe Alpine will be its final set, after the brand’s owners announced it would stop producing outdoor wear to concentrate on its rucksacks and accessories.
Equip Outdoor Technologies, which took over the brand three years ago, said the spring-summer 2015 range would be the last, with its other main clothing brand Rab being the focus of its attention in that sector.
It said its Lowe Alpine clothing design team would in the future work on developing the Rab range.
Equip Outdoor said no staff would be made redundant and its offices in Kendal in Cumbria and Alfreton in Derbyshire would continue their sales and design work.
Lowe Alpine was formed in Colorado by climbers Mike, Jeff and Greg Lowe in the 1960s. They eventually sold the company to Kendal-based Europa Sport. A later period under Italian control ended with financial problems for the clothing division, after which Equip Outdoor took on the brand in 2011 and relaunched clothing alongside the renowned backpacks and other equipment.
Equip chief executive Matt Gowar said: “This is a strategic decision, which allows every part of the business to play to its strengths.
“While the re-launched Lowe Alpine clothing sold in well and has been very well reviewed in the media, it became clear that the targets we had set ourselves were unlikely to be achieved in the timescales we wanted.
“We have therefore taken the opportunity to manage a strategic exit from the Lowe Alpine clothing programme, while redirecting resource into our areas of strength. It goes without saying that we will continue to strongly support the sell-through of Lowe Alpine clothing this autumn and winter.
“Then looking forward, this logical reorganisation allows us to focus on brand strengths. Global growth in Rab clothing and Lowe Alpine backpacks has exceeded 30 per cent year on year, so being the major player in the market for each key brand and category is definitely achievable.”
Equip added that Lowe Alpine’s spring-summer 2015 innovations will include a new travel luggage collection, travel and pack accessories, and further trekking backpack introductions. “Lowe Alpine clothing accessories – including hats, gloves, gaiters and Dryflo base layer garments – will continue to be designed and marketed into the future,” it said. “Marketing investment in both Lowe Alpine and Rab will be stepped up and refocused to support the continued growth.”
The company stressed that Lowe Alpine clothing will continue to be available this year, with a new range launched for this autumn-winter season.
W S Welbury
28 September 2021I still own a Low Alpine Goretex jacket which has served me well. I bought a replacement made by a high end manufacturer but to be honest my Low Alpine jacket was very good value and I can’t get one with the equivalent features for the sort of price I paid.
Ali
20 January 2022Lowe alpine is very good and warm jacket
TheWalkman
25 January 2023Great brand and premium products. Too bad Rab hasn’t rethought their position on Lowe clothing products. Lowe has served me well over the past 25 years.
richard
15 February 2023I bought 2 pairs of Hiking trousers and 2 shirts some while ago, maybe 7 or 8 years ago. I still wear them when the occasion demands, Fortunately they all still fit. Ive yet to find a similar product.
Jack
20 June 2023I still have a black Lowe Alpine t-shirt, fits very well, feel great on the skin. Shop advices RAB, but no: doesn't fit well, doesn't feel the same as Lowe Alpine. Hope I find a similar product one day.
John
06 January 2024Please tell me which brand equals the quality and functionality of lowe alpine clothing? So far, I still haven’t found a single brand that could match it! When do the RAB managers recognize this?
P.
14 March 2024Lowe Alpine were a good brand. They appeared to try to reach a 'trendy' status that the TNF held for many years and profited off it, but they never got there, though they products were just as good and in many ways better. They had their moment of fame when their Aleutian fleece range became all the rage, but they were already made in China and there was absolutely no way to cash in on that explosion on popularity. Their thermal underwear (dryflo) was superb (I still wear these t-shirts bought over 25 years ago and I recently bought sad leftovers for my kids). Never liked their triplepoint alternative to gore-tex, though designs were v. good. Didn't quite find their packs as good (sorry story about a buckle falling to pieces in well below -40C, who knew? Design was very good though. But their big pack... fond memories of long-distance trekking and mountaineering once. It might still be 'out there', in Mexico, where it travelled with its new owner.
Today... I guess Lowe Alpine is just another meaningless logo in a 'business portfolio', alongside Rab and others.