Category: Outdoor Apparel

Kitsbow: On A Mission To Make Riding Better, And To Make The Apparel Industry Better (Made In The USA)

Posted on By Exploration Local
Mountain Biking, Outdoor Apparel, Outdoor Gear

DECLINE OF U.S. BASED APPAREL MANUFACTURING In 1975, 80% of the clothes Americans purchased were made in the USA, but in the 1980’s, the decline in American made apparel began. By the 1990’s almost no apparel was manufactured in the USA.  Western North Carolina fell victim to this overseas manufacturing trend. In the ’70s, there … Read More “Kitsbow: On A Mission To Make Riding Better, And To Make The Apparel Industry Better (Made In The USA)” »

Western North Carolina Mountains: Home To The Largest Concentration Of Outdoor Companies East Of The Rockies

Posted on By Exploration Local
Mountains, Outdoor Apparel, Outdoor Gear, Small Business, Tourism

When people think of the western North Carolina mountains they tend to think of natural resources like waterfalls, amazing vistas, world class mountain biking, climbing, and fishing, quaint adventure towns, thousands of miles of trails for hiking and backpacking and epic southeastern whitewater. Now, those are definitely accurate depictions of what the western North Carolina … Read More “Western North Carolina Mountains: Home To The Largest Concentration Of Outdoor Companies East Of The Rockies” »

WNC Outdoor Collective: A Gathering Place For Outdoor Makers, Retailers, Enthusiasts & Adventurers

Posted on By Exploration Local
Outdoor Apparel, Outdoor Gear, Small Business, Tourism

A Gathering Place For Outdoor Makers, Retailers, Enthusiasts & Adventurers In the heart of downtown Black Mountain NC, rising from a historic abandoned building originally built in 1915, a renovation with a modern, rustic, industrial vibe is nearing completion. It is called the WNC Outdoor Collective. In this episode we sit down with Lincoln Walters. … Read More “WNC Outdoor Collective: A Gathering Place For Outdoor Makers, Retailers, Enthusiasts & Adventurers” »

WINTER HIKING: Possibly The Best Time Of The Year To Hike, with Hanna O’Brien of Saluda Outfitters & The Gorge Zipline

Posted on By Exploration Local
Adventure, Hiking, Mountains, Nature, Outdoor, Outdoor Apparel, Winter Hiking

Don’t ditch your hiking gear just yet! Winter is actually one of the best times to hike in our southern mountains. What makes winter such a great time to hike? For one, without the leaves on the trees, winter landscapes open up and long-range views are breathtaking. The crowds are almost nonexistent, and cooler temperatures … Read More “WINTER HIKING: Possibly The Best Time Of The Year To Hike, with Hanna O’Brien of Saluda Outfitters & The Gorge Zipline” »

Drop everything and Go Ride Your Bike, with Cognative MTB’s Austin Bankert

Posted on By Exploration Local 2 Comments on Drop everything and Go Ride Your Bike, with Cognative MTB’s Austin Bankert
Mountain Biking, Mountains, Outdoor Apparel

Drop everything and Go Ride Your Bike! Episode 05: This episode is because of mountain biking but isn’t ALL about mountain biking. It’s about sharing the ride and the journey that comes with it. It’s about falling in love with an idea that has such a strong pull that it ends up becoming a dream … Read More “Drop everything and Go Ride Your Bike, with Cognative MTB’s Austin Bankert” »