January 27, 2005 – Fashion forward thinking is the theme
at the SIA.05 SnowSports Show. Over 16,000 attendees have caught a sneak
preview of the hottest fashion trends that will hit the streets and the
slopes in the late fall. What can the consumer expect to see: plaids,
unique prints, bold colors, vintage looks and more all wrapped into
functional outerwear perfect for any weather situation.

As attendees have tirelessly walked the halls for three days now, they have
discovered that fashion is inspired by vintage looks and decades of the
past. Plaid is back in full force and for a unique look companies are
mixing plaid and camo to inspire diversity. Amy Johnson, marketing
coordinator for Bonfire commented that “their brand is looking to go beyond
and take their product to the next level by incorporating a mixture of
patterns in their apparel line”. They even used the expertise of Ashley
Pigford, special effects personnel for CSI Miami television show to help
design fabric prints for two of their jacket lines including the Optic Blur
(men and women) and the men’s Chroma jacket.

Rob Miller of BC Surf & Sports (Colorado Springs, CO) told the SnowPress
Show Daily staff that “Plaid, camouflage, beanies, studded belts and darker
colors paired with grandpa brights are all must-haves. Fun apparel is
doing really well for us.”

For the consumer that wants to look more glamorous both on the slope and
off, manufacturers are incorporating satin linings, faux fur trims, velvet,
linen fabrics, shearling and other high-end materials into their outerwear
and lifestyle products. Marmot takes the functional shell jacket seen on
the streets now but adds a new twist showcasing faux-fur around the hood
and trim of the jacket. Spyder returns with the favorite Old Fred
lifestyle jacket with quilted insulation that reverses to yeti-like fur.
“Consumers continue to desire unique, standout garments that set them apart
from others. This is seen in the acceptance of vibrant, bold colors, the
use of real and faux fur for men, women and kids, the demand for attitude
and lifestyle garments for use off-mountains,” commented Laura Wisner,
senior marketing manager for Spyder Active Sports.

SIA research continues to support that men’s and women’s softshell parkas
are a hot ticket item this season. Women’s softshell jackets were off the
charts for the period of August-December 2004 experiencing a 64% increase
in unit sales and 43% increase in dollar sales. Men’s softshell parkas
also have seen significant growth with a 55% increase in units and 36%
increase in dollar sales.

Glamour aside, manufacturers are also taking the electronic and snow sport
world by storm. A vast majority of companies have introduced iPod
capabilitiy in their jackets, headphones, pockets to hold cell phones,
digital cameras and more. Burton will launch the Bluetooth-enabled jacket,
helmet and beanies, a joint production between Motorola and Burton later
this fall. The Bluetooth-enabled jacket links a rider’s cell phone and/or
iPod with an imbedded control model on the jacket sleeve, stereo speakers
in the hood and a microphone in the upper section near the collar. The
Espionage Jacket, with a fully taped 3Lô shell equipped with a removable
2Lô insulated vest, features a low-profile custom digital camera.

For attendees at the SIA SnowSports Show, one might surmise that the
fashion world will takes its cue from the snow sports industry – or is it
the other way around, it’s hard to say. But one thing is certain, SIA.05
is the only place to see the latest in winter sports fashion and get the
inside scoop on what everyone will be wearing for the 2005-06 season.

The SIA SnowSports Show is the premier event in the industry playing host
to over 16,000 attendees including winter sports suppliers, retailers,
reps, resorts, athletes, media personalities and other industry luminaries.
The show consistently attracts over 88% of the national buying power from
the retail community positioning the show as the largest preview event for
winter sports products. Exhibitors on tap to display new product lines for
the 2005-06 season represent over 95% of the market share for the ski and
snowboard sectors and a significant percentage of the Nordic, telemark and
snowshoe market.

For more information, contact Alicia Allen in McLean Virginia at
703-506-4214 or onsite in Las Vegas, Nevada at 703-967-5767.