Dec '08
The new space includes many touches from Icebreaker's home, including conference rooms named after Kiwi sheep stations, and was designed to be as open as possible to inspire employee collaboration, as well as to utilize the natural daylight and views to outside. A large showroom area will facilitate retailer visits and global design meetings.
"It feels very much like New Zealand when you walk in. We wanted to inject this space with Kiwi personality and Southern Alps to always remind us where we're from," said Russ Hopcus, president of Icebreaker's US company. "Icebreaker moved to Portland because of Oregon's incredible outdoor playground and tremendous design talent. The US market is a bigger opportunity than we knew then, and as more people discover the benefits of year-round, sustainable merino apparel, our business has been growing rapidly."
Icebreaker moved its U.S. operations from Ketchum, Idaho into temporary Portland space in 2007. More than 40 employees will be located at the new Icebreaker U.S. headquarters at 1330 NW 14th Avenue, including those at the company's global design center, and U.S. sales and marketing office, which has been located in separate buildings in Portland's Pearl District. The new space includes capacity for the company to eventually double the number of its workforce, which is the plan over the next two to three years.
Icebreaker's Portland workforce is internationally diverse, including employees from New Zealand, The Netherlands, the United Kingdom and Romania. Five employees have transferred from the company's Wellington, New Zealand global headquarters to Portland, with two more relocating soon.
The 16,500 square foot headquarters are expected to earn LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification in 2009. Among the other accoutrements are showers, changing rooms and indoor bike parking, "To inspire as much use of human-powered and public transportation as possible," says Hopcus.
Portland's GBD Architects, Inc. designed the space with architect Suzy Olsen as the lead designer. All of the wood in the space is either reclaimed or FSC Certified (responsibly forested woods). Low VOC paints and coatings were used throughout. No urea-formaldehyde glue, a known cancer causing substance, was used in the composite wood products. All systems office furniture is Green-Guard Certified, meeting strict VOC standards.
Icebreaker is celebrating in December the one-year anniversary of the opening of its first US retail Touch_Lab store on the corner of NW 11th and West Burnside, across from Powell's Books. The store carries its complete line of 100 percent merino technical apparel products - which are "warm when wet" -and are perfect for Oregon's 'liquidsunshine' climate.
Icebreaker
Must ReadView All
Apparel/Garments | On 25th Apr 2018
India mulls new schemes for jobs, textile clusters
India is mulling over alternative schemes for jobs and manufacturing...
Textiles | On 25th Apr 2018
Kraig gets approval for Vietnamese subsidiary firm
Kraig Biocraft Laboratories, Inc., the leading developer of spider...
Textiles | On 25th Apr 2018
ITMA Asia + CITME 2018 attract global textile companies
The sixth edition of ITMA ASIA + CITME 2018 has received strong...
Interviews View All
Claudia Kersten
Global Organic Textile Standard
‘GOTS is a very efficient supply chain management tool, especially for...
Giovanni Pizzamiglio, Paolo Crespi & Riccardo Robustelli
Epson, For.Tex & F.lli Robustelli
‘The percentage share of printing in the global textile market is pretty...
Nuno Venda
ROQ
‘There has been an increase in demand for water based inks, rather than...
Textile Events is one of the largest textile fair in the United Kingdom,...
Sushila International, a well established textile organisation established ...
Idealin Fogging Systems has been engaged in designing and manufacturing...
Paolo Ocleppo
Sandvik Hyperion
Paolo Ocleppo, Rotary Cutting Segment manager, Sandvik Hyperion discusses...
Iago Castro Asensio
RCfil Distribuciones S.L.
Iago Castro Asensio, International Business Manager of RCfil...
Giorgio Mantovani
Corman S.p.A
Giorgio Mantovani, MD of Corman, with a presence in both Milano and New...
Cigdem Akin
Cigdem Akin
She has carved a niche for herself as the national brand of Turkey. Her...
Robert Brunner
Devereux
Golfwear and menswear brand Devereux is set for greener pastures. Robert...
Silvia Venturini Fendi
Fendi s.r.l
"Yes, my confidence and positive attitude are my strengths and should be...
Leave your Comments
Recommended
Want to know what happened in the textile world this week? Watch now!
news category
Related Categories:
Do you think the sustainability space has the needed tools and resources available for a business to lead change?
Yes No SkipActive Poll
Do you see sustainability as a route to business growth?
YesTotal Votes: 103
Do you think adopting a sustainable approach will be a profitable move for your business?
Yes No SkipActive Poll
Do you think the sustainability space has the needed tools and resources available for a business to lead change?
YesTotal Votes: 103
Do you want the world to know about your sustainability journey and your business’ environmental footprint?
Yes No SkipActive Poll
Do you think adopting a sustainable approach will be a profitable move for your business?
YesTotal Votes: 103
Thanks for your valuable feedback. Claim your free latest sustainability e-book.
Active Poll
Do you want the world to know about your sustainability journey and your business’ environmental footprint?
YesTotal Votes: 103
E-News Insight
Latest News Update in Your Mail Box.
