Look at your commute right now. Half the train looks like they are about to ascend Mount Everest, but they are literally just going to an Excel spreadsheet job. Arc’teryx jackets, Salomon sneakers, and technical backpacks have completely colonized urban fashion.
The line between “I might hike a glacier” and “I’m getting an iced matcha” is totally gone.
Brands like Arc’teryx and The North Face realized that if they make something waterproof enough to survive a monsoon, city kids will buy it to protect their MacBooks from a light drizzle. It’s a masterclass in over-engineering.
We demand that our bags have ripstop fabrics and weatherproofing, which is cool in theory, until you realize you’re paying a massive premium for technical features you’ll literally never use.
But hey, at least you look like you’re ready for the apocalypse while you’re waiting for the delayed G train.