The North Face launched its first pilot program around refurbished used goods, dubbed Renewed, in 2018. The first iteration of the Remade upcycling program, limited initially to 50 pieces, quickly followed that same year.
Plenty of brands have joined the upcycling movement both before and since then. REI now has an entire section of its online store dedicated to gear made from recycled materials.
Given the mission of the REMADE program, crafting simple neckties made from swaths of used technical materials feels like a clever (and low-lift) strategy for turning old outdoor gear into coveted fashion treasures. But apparently, making a tie out of technical jacket fabric isn’t as easy as it seems. As the collection’s launch page states, “keeping the sharp edges and keeping it really clean was quite tough and not what that fabric is designed to do.”
Making an upcycled tie from discarded outdoor apparel won’t move the needle much if no one will buy it. That’s at least one explanation for why The North Face might’ve cautiously decided to make the item a limited release and soon-to-be collector’s item.
Though the tie is technically priced at just $79, which is pretty damn reasonable these days, earning the chance to pay that amount requires signing up for a draw on End’s release launch website and keeping your fingers crossed. Based on the countdown timer on End’s site, winners of the draw should be notified by the end of the day, October 10th, 2024.
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