Wild Things' history began in 1981 in New Hampshire, when mountaineers Marie Meunier and John Bouchard founded an outdoor brand pursuing the motto ‘lightest is rightest’ to make lightweight and tough clothes to withstand their expeditions. Its innovative designs made a name for itself, catching the attention of the U.S. Special Forces in the 2000s. Its proven and tested designs are now commercialized by the recently relaunched label in Japan. Read more…
The harsh New Hampshire weather conditions in the vicinity of Mount Washington combined with the multitude of experienced climbers made it possible for Wild Things to test its prototypes in the most adverse environments, gaining recognition for its cutting-edge designs since the early times, introducing unprecedented gears like the one-piece suit and the haul bag. In the late 80s, Wild Things’ products, from the explorer jackets to climbing and hiking accessories, were ever-present in any big climb in the U.S., catching the U.S. Army’s attention. In the early 2000s, the U.S. Special Forces commissioned Wild Things bespoke and made-to-order kits for individual units, having the elite units come to New Hampshire to craft and tailor the equipment according to their necessities. By 2004, the brand was awarded its first contract to produce cold weather clothing systems for the U.S. Military, currently used by every Armed Forces branch. In conjunction with the relentless technical advances required in the military, Wild Things introduced fabrics like Primaloft and mastered a series of altitude jackets labeled as Level 7 according to army standards, assuring protection at Arctic temperature, but packable and easy to carry. The combination of military-led innovations and its functional design made some of Wild Things’ signature designs overflow in lifestyle, making the Monster Parka one of the brand’s best-sellers. A revolutionary synthetic down supporting the waterproof outer shell, proving the parka for extreme conditions but suitable for daily use thanks to its wearability and lightweight. The Happy Jacket was launched as a waist-long derivative jacket after the Monster Parka’s success. In recent years, inherited features and designs have been re-engineered for the Japanese market, widening Wild Thing’s collection to lifestyle staples spanning from technical outerwear to streetwear pieces, with the introduction of the sleeveless vest version of the now iconic Monster Parka, alongside a series of Polartec® fleece jackets, tucked utility pants and hats.