Coldsmoke: The Real Deal

Have you ever fallen in love with a brand? I have. It's called Coldsmoke.

Coldsmoke is a collective of cool: it's a mountain culture film festival, it's Powder Mountain Cat and Heli Skiing, and it's insanely high quality apparel. I love it all.

Let me start off by telling you about the inception of Coldsmoke. It's so beautiful, it's almost poetic– and best of all, it got started right here in British Columbia:

"Coldsmoke was an idea born while founder Randall Breitenbach was heli-skiing years back in Northern BC, Canada. On that day, snow conditions were perfect, light, fresh and flaky; just then the icy sun peeked out from behind the mountains and a slight wind blew the powder from a near-by peak, creating a swirling funnel of fresh flakes in the freezing air. The snow was perfect. It was like COLDSMOKE."

Before I dive in to the clothing itself, let me tell you what I love about Coldsmoke:

It's practical, functional clothing for the mountain lifestyle, but it actually looks good– like real fashion.
It's designed in Venice, California and made right in Vancouver, BC.
The quality is incomparable. I mean it when I say that no detail has been overlooked.
The designs are refreshingly classic. There's nothing over-the-top or ridiculous going on.

Here's a look into the Spring/Summer 2014 collection– which, for the first time, includes ladies' apparel (REJOICE!).

The Avani

I am obsessed with my Avani zip up: it's made of the softest French terry that feels like you've been wearing it forever. The porthole pockets in the front are unlike anything I've ever seen, and the nylon pockets are practical, but also pretty cool. This hoodie is all about the details: the lined hood, the way the wrist elastics are just the right tightness (weird, but it's one of my favourite things about it), and the piped trim that pulls it all together.

It also comes in a non-zip version, and fellas, there's one for you, too.

The Kisek Leggings

I live for leggings, so I was excited when I found out that Coldsmoke made their own not-so-basic black pair. I've come to love Coldsmoke for their attention to detail, so I knew that their leggings would hold their own.

I was right. The jersey material means that you can actually use the pants for athletic things, but the detailed piping, wide waistband and sweatshirt-like ankle cuffs make them a little more stylish than your average plain legging. I appreciate the little touches like the deep, zippered, waterproof pockets and the reflective material used for the seams.

I'll be honest: Coldsmoke apparel isn't cheap, but the investment can be justified. The same pieces can be used for functional purposes and for fashionable events; everything is made locally; the quality is outrageously amazing; and the pieces are basic enough to form wardrobe staples that you'll wear time and time again. If you're looking to veer away from the world of disposable fashion, then check out Coldsmoke.

Let me leave you with a few of my other favourite pieces: