Rossignol Launches Urbanwear

After a test run last season, the French skiwear specialist has launched its full-fledged urbanwear collection for winter comprising three lines: outerwear, designer and casual.

The presentation took place on Monday night at the Grand Palais in Paris, where a huge ice skating rink has been set up for the holiday season. Next to the rink, a pop-up shop carrying Rossignol’s signature down pieces is to run until Jan. 4.

Taking cues from its activewear business that has defined the heritage label since 1907, Rossignol has taken a similarly tech-savvy approach to construct its new off-the-slopes fashion lines for men and women. Cue minimalist, chic coats from soft New Zealand wool provided by Loro Piana, waterproof, thermo-bonded and with a pinch of stretch silk for a sporty touch.

Elsewhere, the urban vibe was seen in a series of varsity-inspired jackets made from down and incorporating the house’s “feverless” technology, which keeps the wearer dry and isolated from moisture and cold.

Throughout, the items could be mixed and matched via a clever layering system, which included sweaters made from down and jersey for indoor or outdoor activities. A woman’s wrap coat in Loro Piana wool zipped tightly on the side — and could well double as a dress. Prices range between 275 euros, or $342 at current exchange, for a casual down jacket and 900 euros, or $1,121, for a designer coat.

In addition, Rossignol kept its skiwear arty yet current, with a renewed collaboration with Jean-Charles de Castelbajac, who conjured a colorful gamut of ethnic totem and camouflage prints, some of which have been hand-embroidered onto ski overalls, ski pants and jackets with Mongolian lamb inserts.

Buoyed by fresh money from Sandbridge Capital, its new minority shareholder — which counts Derek Lam, Topshop and Karl Lagerfeld in its investment portfolio — Rossignol has revealed aspirations to develop lifestyle collections for all four seasons of the year, not just winter. www.wwd.com