United By Blue (UBB), the sustainable outdoor apparel and lifestyle brand, has won an inaugural Outdoor Retailer Innovation Award for its new Bison Puffer Jacket and insulation. From sustainable solutions to revolutionary creations, 20 distinguished judges with backgrounds in retail, journalism, entrepreneurship, and design evaluated 32 finalists to choose 12 winners. The inaugural awards were handed out on the second day of Outdoor Retailer Winter Market 2018.

The company announced its new Bison Puffer Jacket, insulated with North American bison fibre that is often considered waste and thrown away by the ranching industry, last month. “Winter is fast approaching. Most of us are pulling our coats from storage or shopping for a new one, guided by the question: Will this jacket keep me warm?” said Brian Linton, UBB’s founder and CEO. “While warmth is vital, we’re challenging ourselves to consider an equally important factor: What’s in my jacket? It should come as no surprise that the most important part of a jacket is what you can’t see: the insulation inside.”

“We don’t use duck or goose down at United By Blue for this very reason. Despite progress in traceability, the down industry’s live plucking practices remain too controversial to consider a viable option,” added Linton. “We ventured into the world of synthetic insulation but were never able to find something we could truly stand behind both technically and environmentally. Our only solution was to create something entirely new.”

The Bison Puffer Jacket is insulated with 190gsm B100 fill, United By Blue’s sustainable alternative to down or synthetic insulation made with 50% North American bison fibre and 50% recycled polyester blend. The bison’s shaggy coat consists of a layer of hollow, compactable, resilient hairs that allow them to keep warm and dry in the harshest winter climates.

Bison fibre is an often-discarded by-product of the ranching industry. United By Blue has spent the past five years creating a supply chain to intercept and harness the power of this natural fibre and diverting it from a landfill. Aside from its warmth capabilities (the jacket is recommended from 0-50°F), B100 is naturally temperature regulating, hypoallergenic, and lightweight. It is quilted into baffles that will keep its shape and won’t settle over time while providing a level of flexibility for a variety of activities.

“The Bison Puffer Jacket is the most sustainable down alternative jacket we have ever produced. Incorporating lighter weight and higher performance recycled and natural materials, the bison puffer raises the bar for not just bison-insulated outerwear, but sustainable outerwear,” commented Brendan Rauth, Product Designer for United By Blue.

To combat the elements, the Bison Puffer Jacket features a YKK zipper with internal storm flap, fleece-lined pockets, elastic sleeve cuff, and drawcords at the hem. With a partially recycled waterproof, breathable two-layer shell fabric, interior phone pocket with headphone port, and a printed interior lining, the jacket marries sustainability, function, and aesthetics.

www.unitedbyblue.com