Western Rise® Establishes New Studio Line — Limited Edition, Crowdfunded, Small Batch Technical Clothing

February 28, 2017

Combining high-performance fabrics, innovative construction techniques, and well-considered design to create simple, timeless clothing, Western Rise is built to give the active individual freedom of movement.

Telluride, CO (February 28, 2017) Recontextualizing how apparel is designed, developed, and distributed, Western Rise’s new crowdfunded Studio Line seeks to more closely involve consumers in the development process, with a platform designed for rapid clothing experimentation.

“Our Studio line lets us offer a variety of styles and fabrics that we might not otherwise be willing to gamble on,” says cofounder Kelly Watters. “By crowdfunding community-driven garments alongside our proven Core line, we are able to advance apparel innovation on a route best suited for our customers, the environment and our differentiated business model.”

With founders constantly (and rightfully) obsessed with fabrics and technical product development, the new Studio Line now allows Western Rise to source the highest-quality of materials, from the best suppliers in the world, while manufacturing in locations that are best-suited for the unique needs of each garment. Current partners include family run factories in the USA and Europe, as well as state of the art facilities in Asia. Manufacturing details for each Western Rise piece are available under Product Details.

“We believe that one well-designed, highly-technical garment can take the place of many cheaply-made, poorly-constructed pieces in your closet,” says Will Watters, Western Rise co-founder. “Simply put, your clothing should fit well and function seamlessly, no matter the occasion.”

Born into a family of textile entrepreneurs three generations deep, Watter’s keen knowledge for fabric compositions was a driving forces in the conception of Western Rise. Learning from his father and grandfather’s textile ventures from an early age, Will was avid to build purpose-driven garments, with the right materials, that perform better every day.

“For us, it has always been about the product,” says Kelly Watters, Western Rise co-founder. “As active individuals, we constantly desired advanced functionality from our everyday clothing. Clothing that worked across a broader range of social settings and activities, but with advanced mobility and protection from the elements. Seeking a blend of both function and style in all of our apparel, we rarely found both. So we set out to change that.”

Launching on westernrise.com today, Western Rise’s new crowdfunded Studio begins with The Flow Collection — inspired by daily movement. Designed at 8,750’ in Telluride, Colorado for the changing of the seasons and a mindful state of Flow. Built around movement and awareness — for deep Spring powder days to desert single-track, warmer work commutes and shoulder season travel — The Flow Collection is designed to adjust to varying temperatures and environments.

The first small batch piece available in The Flow Collection is the StrongCore Merino Tee — in both men’s and women’s cuts. Not just another tee, the StrongCore is built from ultra fine 170gsm, 17.5 micron Merino wool — softer than the 18.9 micron wool most brands use — spun around a core Nylon filament yarn, increasing the burst strength of the fabric and improving durability while retaining the ultra-soft hand feel of fine micron Merino and bacteriostatic qualities of Merino wool (89% Merino / 11% Nylon).

Using a long-proven merino wool factory in the San Francisco Bay Area, we cut this luxuriously-soft fabric into a simple, classic tee. Cut slightly lean with a dropped tail, the StrongCore Merino Tee is ready for all of your active pursuits whether that’s the climbing at the gym, in the desert or the metro stairway.

Additional Spring Studio releases include biking shorts and a technical henley. Spring Core line (non-crowdfunded pieces) releases include a technical western shirt, both men’s and women’s pants and men’s camp shorts.

Stay updated on Western Rise’s 2017 Studio line releases by subscribing to their email list at westernrise.com.

About Western Rise®:

Designed, developed, and tested at 8750′ in Telluride, Colorado, Western Rise believes that the outdoors begin at your front door, and all of your apparel should enhance your daily life. With a priority on providing quality over quantity, ultra-functional elements, and all the essentials and nothing extra, Western Rise’s collections marry style and tech to perform harmoniously in the city and flawlessly deep in the backcountry. Believing in continuing to protect the places that inspire, Western Rise donates 1% of all purchases to their partners at Western Rivers Conservancy.

Apparel, Elevated.  westernrise.com  @western_rise  #LiveTheMountainLife