N.Hoolywood’s Daisuke Obana is becoming an avid outdoorsman before our very eyes.
With that, a ski inspiration was born—not so much ski as a ski-military hybrid. Obana did some research and learned of a WWII-era mountain boot camp in Vail. The designer was moved by the story of one soldier, who, after being injured in the war overseas, returned to Colorado, where he qualified for the U.S. ski team—though he was unable to compete due to his war wound—and opened one of the most important ski resorts in the country.
So while Obana incorporated a sweet snowflake motif throughout, he mixed it with elements of cold-weather mountain training. Think funnel-neck thick parkas and jackets recalling army-surplus stores, a two-toned hooded duffle coat, faux-fur-lined pockets, a white and khaki ice-crystal camo print, blue jeans with gathered hems for heat retention, and a range of high-end après-ski knits in cream and speckled autumnal colors. Obana’s collaborations were done with various brands, including New Balance, Airwalk, Porter, and Avirex, the last producing a delectable glacier-white shearling coat, of which only 40 will be made.
