We’re big fans of performance brands that do things a little differently. Think unconventional cycling kit, alternative running gear and outdoor clothing that goes against the grain. CAYL falls squarely into this category. It’s a leftfield mountaineering label that innovates not just with tech and materials, but through aesthetics too. Think Klättermusen had it been born in South Korea rather than Scandinavia. For the uninitiated, the CAYL FW25 lookbook provides the perfect introduction.
CAYL was founded in 2011 by Euijae Lee, a former engineer who looked at Korea’s mountainous terrain, noticed the alarming shortage of decent gear, and thought, “Fine, I’ll do it myself.” So he did. It started with knocking up functional bits for himself and his mates before realising, quite sensibly, that other people might want in.
CAYL FW25: Performance meets style
The result is a brand that makes extremely functional clothes that manage that rarest of feats – to appeal to both the fashion crowd and serious alpine athletes at the same time. We’re talking ultralight down, shell jackets that fold down to nothing, trousers with vents in places you didn’t know you needed vents, and rucksacks with more compartments than a pair of Engineered Garments pants. Materials like Polartec, Primaloft, and Pertex abound, interwoven with a unique design language that runs through each and every piece.
Next up: Gorpcore – the practical aesthetic that changed menswear.
