Come journey with us as we explore and highlight the people and places that make the Blue Ridge and Southern Appalachian Mountains special and unique
WNC Outdoor Collective: A Gathering Place For Outdoor Makers, Retailers, Enthusiasts & Adventurers
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. He is the visionary for WNC Outdoor Collective, and owner of Black Mountain Adventure Apparel, a company that provides well-crafted, versatile apparel that inspires a mountain-town lifestyle of adventure.
Join us as we discover how Lincoln’s vision for producing apparel inspired by Black Mountain and the Blue Ridge Mountains, quickly expanded to the creation of a gathering place for local & regional outdoor gear makers, retailers, enthusiasts, and adventurers. The result, a unique destination hub where consumers can have direct access to numerous local gear builders in one place AND, a meet up where people can grab a coffee or shot block before their group ride or run and enjoy a nice craft beer after their adventure.
Inspired By The Blue Ridge Mountains
Asheville, and the North Carolina Mountains as a whole, have always been synonymous with scenic mountains and limitless opportunities for all types of outdoor adventures. People look to these beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains for adventure, rest & relaxation, a place to live, and inspiration. This area is also gaining national and international recognition as a gear innovation hub.
Why?
Because the same things that make this area ideal for adventure and exploration, are what make it ideal for product development and testing.
Over 30 Outdoor Industry brands have picked WNC as their home because of the abundant resources and talent pool, the benefits of the area for product development and testing, and the network of collaboration within the outdoor industry of WNC. Brands like Eno, Astral, Watershed, Liquid Logic, Sylvan Sport, and Fox, joining forces with companies like The Milk & Honey, Blyss, Black Mtn Adventure Apparel, and Axe and Awl. Add to that the region’s desirable mountain towns in western North Carolina, that bring a strong network of skilled production workers. The result…high quality, locally sourced outdoor gear made FOR adventurers, BY adventurers.
That same collaborative spirit is evident in the vision and formation of the WNC Outdoor Collective. Outdoor brands coming together, pooling resources, and co-existing in a supportive way. Companies uniting efforts, believing they are stronger together. So cool…and I can’t wait for their grand opening April 2.
Be sure to check out the links in the show notes for more information about the WNC Outdoor Collective, Black Mtn Adventure Apparel, Outdoor Gear Builders of WNC, and more.
MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE
WNC Outdoor Collective http://wncoutdoorcollective.com
Outdoor Gear Builders of WNC https://www.outdoorgearbuilders.com
Black Mountain, NC https://www.exploreblackmountain.com
The Milk & Honey Co https://themilkandhoneyco.com
Misty Mountain https://www.outdoorgearbuilders.com/misty-mountain
Lucky Sheep https://www.woolsleepingbag.com
Blyss https://www.blyssrunning.com
Astral https://www.astraldesigns.com
Eno https://eaglesnestoutfittersinc.com
Cane Creek https://canecreek.com
Pisgah Map Company https://www.pisgahmapcompany.com
