Daily Front Row

2012 February 2

Filson Taps Richard Chai

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Richard Chai
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(NEW YORK) It was only a matter of time until Filson, the purveyor of classic rugged outerwear touting a "might as well have the best" slogan, would scoop up one of the industry's finest: Richard Chai. The Seattle-centered company has tapped the New York native as their newest creative director after the designer approached the brand with a simple concept of adding modern twists to Filson classics, from the quintessential wool bomber to the traveling duffle. 

“I’ve been a fan of Filson for years,” said Chai to WWD. “I love the timelessness and practicality in their design. Our partnership will be rooted in everyday wear, approachable with unexpected fabrications and details that are signature to my collections, all while staying true to the heritage of the Filson brand.”

Chai's first capsule collection, under the Filson Rugged Casual Apparel line, will hit the catwalk during the Richard Chai LOVE men's runway show on February 9th at Lincoln Center with six jackets and three bags constructed from luxurious in-house fabrics—all priced 25 percent higher than current Filson offerings. The new collab is expected to bring in a younger clientele and elevate the 115-year-old brand with a more fashion-forward approach.

“We met and it was like he’d read our book. He was clearly smack dab in the middle of the vision we had for growth," Filson president and CEO Mark Korros told WWD. “We think it can really be long-term."