People keenly awaiting the announcement of a Kathmandu wedding tuxedo, following yesterday’s release of the Adapt All-Weather-Wedding-Dress, will be disappointed. The travel and adventure brand has today revealed that its bold expansion in to weddings was an elaborate April Fool’s Day prank.
The All-Weather-Wedding-Dress, currently displayed at the Tower Junction Kathmandu store in Christchurch and up for auction online at TradeMe, will be the first and last for the brand. Proceeds from the dress’s sale will 100% go to the New Zealand Himalayan Trust.
Ben Ryan, Kathmandu General Manager – Product said, “While Kathmandu designs sustainable clothing and products to support all kinds of global adventures, the incredible feat of walking down the aisle won’t be one of them – except for the lucky person who purchases the unique Adapt All-Weather-Wedding-Dress.”
“Kathmandu has no intention to produce the dress for a wider market, but we look forward to meeting the auction winner who wants to say yes to a highly-adaptable, all-weather dress.”
The dress was created in collaboration with New Zealand fashion designer Tanya Carlson and GORE-TEX fabric.
The truly one-of-a-kind dress features:
- Seven metres of GORE-TEX fabric cut and draped in a continuous line, creating a classic Tanya Carlson silhouette with minimal seams
- An elegant yet waterproof and functional design
- A train that transforms into a cape with hood (take that, unexpected heavy rainfall)
- A Pack&GO solution, allowing dress to cleverly pack down into a travel-size bag
- Large storage pockets allowing the bride to carry flowers, first-aid kits or bottles of water
- Internal zips that transform the length of the dress, taking bride from alter to first waltz with ease and style.
- Blue, merino wool lining
The dress is still open for bids but be quick – the TradeMe auction ends at Monday April 8, 2019.
Find out more about the Kathmandu Adapt Wedding Dress at www.kathmanduoutdoor.com/all-weather-wedding-dress.
About Kathmandu
Born from a desire to make outdoor adventure more comfortable and accessible to everyone, Kathmandu originated in New Zealand with the first retail store opening in Melbourne’s Hardware Lane in 1987. Kathmandu now has over 165 retail stores, online and a wholesale presence in Australia, New Zealand, United Kingdom, Germany and the United States of America.
Kathmandu released its annual Sustainability Report in October 2018 which details the brand’s sustainability initiatives and achievements. Below is a summary of the key findings:
- Kathmandu became the first Fair Labour Association accredited brand in the Southern Hemisphere
- The Ethical Fashion Report, published by Baptist World Aid, awarded Kathmandu an A for its proactive activity in protecting workers
- Kathmandu was ranked #2 by the Textile Exchange for its use of preferred materials in 2018
- Kathmandu saved over 5.5 million litres of water in 2018, by employing sustainable materials like REPREVE, recycled cotton and solution-dyed polyesters.
About GORE-TEX
Gore Fabrics Division revolutionised the outerwear industry with waterproof, breathable GORE-TEX fabric 40 years ago and remains a leading innovator of performance apparel. Gore Fabrics products provide comfort and protection in challenging environments and in everyday life, enabling wearers to safely and confidently achieve and experience more. From hiking in downpours to military operations and fighting fires, Gore’s deep understanding of consumer and industry needs drives development of products with meaningful performance advantages. www.gore-tex.com
About Tanya Carlson
Since launching her label in 1997, Kiwi fashion designer Tanya Carlson has become a household name, known for her strong silhouettes, tailoring, innovative fabrics and colours, and exclusively New Zealand-made garments. A popular choice with New Zealand celebrities and sports stars for red carpet events, Carlson has dressed everyone from musicians to supermodels, netballers to former All Blacks and has designed wedding dresses for celebrities including cyclist Alison Shanks, media personality Kerre McIvor, TV presenter Sonia Gray and more recently BMX champion Sarah Walker. Carlson has also designed costumes for major dance companies, including the Royal New Zealand Ballet, and most recently, the Okareka Dance Company and has collaborated with artists Michael Parekowhai and choreographer Douglas Wright. Carlson is also involved in supporting emerging fashion talent through her role as head judge at the iD International Emerging Designer Awards and recently featured as a guest judge on New Zealand’s Project Runway.
About the New Zealand Himalayan Trust
The Himalayan Trust is an international non-profit humanitarian organisation first established in the 1960s by Sir Edmund Hillary. The Himalayan Trust aims to improve the health, education and general wellbeing of people living in the Solukhumbu district of Nepal.