We want to help get people outside, and into adventures
Born in Yosemite (US) in 1968 by world-renowned climbers and adventurers Royal and Liz Robbins, the Royal Robbins brand is a leading designer, manufacturer, and retailer of versatile, durable, and stylish apparel for the next generation of adventurers. The brand maintains a commitment to environmental and social responsibility by prioritising natural fibres and maintaining carbon neutrality in Scope 1 and 2 emissions. President Erik Burbank speaks to Fibre2Fashion about outdoor, especially adventure and climbing, apparel.
How is the outdoor and adventure apparel industry adapting to the growing consumer demand for sustainable and ethically made products?
While the industry is evolving and improving with regard to sustainability, we have a long way to go. Likewise, while consumer demand for sustainable and ethically sourced products is on the rise, a gap remains between their intentions and actions when it comes to the register. The sustainability aspects of a particular product or brand are still largely a secondary or tertiary consideration point for most consumers. Perhaps this is because it is difficult for consumers to understand what is or is not a good choice. In the marketplace, there is a sea of misleading sustainability claims and partial truths that make it that much more difficult for consumers to be confident that they are making good choices.
As an industry, we need to both continue to push ourselves to do the hard work needed, while finding clearer and direct ways to educate consumers. The Responsible Wool Standard (RWS) is an example of efforts that help outdoor brands collectively reduce their impact, while giving consumers a way to identify a product or brand that they can feel good about purchasing.
Royal Robbins has a long-standing heritage rooted in Yosemite. How has this heritage shaped the design of the Fall 2025 collection?
Royal Robbins was conceived in Yosemite by famed climbers, Liz and Royal Robbins in 1968. Initially, the brand served climbers by importing climbing gear from Europe that was difficult, if not impossible, to find in the United States. They soon realised that no one was creating apparel to meet the specific needs of climbers. With an innate understanding of what climbers needed, they started by importing wool sweaters and quickly moved to design industry-changing products like Billy Goat shorts, Pucker shirts and 5.11 climbing pants. By uniquely meeting the performance needs of climbers, they attracted a broader audience of outdoor adventurers due to the versatility, comfort and durability of the apparel. The Fall 2025 line is true to our heritage and showcases our dedication to understanding what our fans need—allowing us to deliver innovative products that stand up to the Royal Robbins name.
How does Royal Robbins blend the spirit of outdoor adventure with functional design in its apparel collections? Are there specific features or fabrics that define this approach?
Royal Robbins apparel is designed to be the optimal mix of versatility, comfort and sustainability. Our first apparel products were made from wool, cotton and hemp. We continue to emphasise natural fibres while using recycled synthetics where needed to ensure that we deliver on the particular performance needs of our fans. While we continue to innovate on fabrics, we recognise that sometimes the purest answers are the best ones. For example, the wool in our sweaters is Merino, and all our sweaters are Responsible Wool Standard (RWS) certified.
In a world of ever-increasing ‘new and improved’ technologies, it is great to remember that wool is the original performance fibre. Whether you are climbing, hiking or skiing, a 100 per cent merino wool sweater is very hard to beat when it comes to warmth, comfort and durability.
Royal Robbins has a strong reputation in performance sweaters. What inspired the expansion of the Merino wool sweater range in Fall 2025?
As one of the most respected climbers of his generation, our founder Royal wore wool sweaters as he scaled the big walls of Yosemite. Warm, comfortable and durable, these sweaters were an essential component of a climber’s kit. Our very first apparel item back in the late 1960s was a wool sweater, and we have built a reputation as a leader in sweaters ever since. We have since focused exclusively on merino wool due to its superior properties, including non-itch. The new Fall ’25 collection reflects both our passion and commitment to delivering versatile, comfortable and sustainable gear. The new line highlights the brand’s commitment to ethical sourcing by using Responsible Wool Standard (RWS) certified wool* across the entire sweater collection. We believe the Fall 2025 collection is our strongest ever.
*Responsible Wool Standard (RWS) wool, certified by Control Union cert. 895314
You have chosen natural fibres like hemp, organic cotton, and Tencel Modal for the shackets. Why did you select these materials, and how do they align with the brand’s ethos?
When our company started, the concept of ‘sustainability’ was not really talked about. However, in the 1960s, our founder, along with Yvon Chouinard, was already pioneering new climbing techniques designed to preserve the natural features of the rock faces they and others were climbing. So, you can say that sustainability is deeply rooted in our DNA, and choosing natural and lower impact materials is not new for us. What started as a devotion to ‘clean climbing’ has continued in our quest for sustainability by creating apparel for adventurers while striving to minimise the negative impacts on our planet.
With a commitment to using responsible materials, how do you manage the balance between product durability and environmental impact?
Making durable apparel that will last a very long time is among the best ways to minimise our impact on the planet. Some of our Fall 25 sweaters are designed to last a lifetime, or longer, with proper care. We believe natural fibres can drive performance and comfort while being extremely durable. Merino wool and hemp are two great examples of natural fibres that we appreciate. All of our products are designed to emphasise versatility, comfort and sustainability. While we are proud of the progress we have made in this journey, we know that as a brand, and as an industry, there is still much to do.
How important is the RWS certification for Royal Robbins, and what challenges or benefits come with using RWS-certified wool?
The Responsible Wool Standard (RWS) is a voluntary standard that requires all sites, from wool farms to the seller in the final business-to-business transaction, to be certified. RWS farmers and ranchers are evaluated against animal welfare, land management, and social requirements set in the standard. These high standards and certification processes help us ensure that we are delivering the best possible product, crafted and created in a sustainable way. Hundred per cent of Royal Robbins sweaters now carry the RWS certification.
Can you share some details about the Mosquito Protection Technology (MPT)? How does it work, and what makes it different from other mosquito protection options?
Traditionally, people recreating in the outdoors looked for protection from mosquitoes through lotions, sprays or apparel treated with chemicals that would repel or kill mosquitos. The challenge was that these chemicals are often toxic, including suspected or known carcinogens. Because we know mosquitos can ruin an outdoor adventure, we set out to find a solution that did not risk human or environmental health.
We are excited to launch Mosquito Protection Technology (MPT) in Spring 2025. This breakthrough innovation delivers robust protection from mosquitoes, without harmful chemicals, pesticides or biocides. Unlike chemical-based repellents, MPT’s protective properties come from the tightly woven, engineered fabric that acts as a barrier to a mosquito’s proboscis. These fabrics are comfortable and lightweight while providing the wearer with a high level of protection from mosquito bites.
What specific steps has Royal Robbins taken in terms of testing and validating MPT’s effectiveness?
Royal Robbins has worked with Vector Textiles since 2023, rigorously testing MPT fabrics over twelve months. Vector Textiles is focused on research, development, and testing of chemical-free textiles. Based on the results of multiple controlled laboratory tests, all fabrics perform well in providing effective protection from mosquitoes without the use of chemicals or pesticides. MPT fabrics demonstrated an overall 92 per cent effectiveness in preventing mosquito bites. We also tested MPT in the field in both Sweden and the US.
Given the competitive nature of outdoor and travel clothing markets, what strategies set Royal Robbins apart and attract consumers looking for both style and performance?
Royal Robbins sets itself apart by combining heritage-inspired design with modern innovation. Our designs draw from the adventurous spirit of our Yosemite roots to deliver the optimal mix of versatility, comfort and sustainability.
How has the role of technology evolved in the design, testing, and production of durable, weather-resistant apparel, and what trends are on the horizon in this area?
Technology and innovation come in many forms. Over the course of the last 55+ years, we have come to the realisation that often ‘less is more’. We have found ways to deliver mosquito protection without the use of Permethrin or other toxic chemicals. We have implemented ways to eliminate, reduce and offset carbon in our product supply chain. In 2018, we committed to eliminate harmful chemicals like PFAS and successfully halted all intentional sourcing of PFAS since 2020. We are also in our fourth season of a pilot programme to eliminate the use of polybags in the transportation of our products. And we have heightened our ongoing commitment to versatility and durability, in an effort to create products that can last years—if not decades—of use, so that consumers can buy less.
Going forward, we see demand for natural and recycled fibres growing. We expect more consumers to seek out products that are versatile and comfortable, choosing apparel that enables a broad spectrum of activities and adventures.
How has the outdoor apparel industry adapted to the rise of multifunctional clothing, catering to consumers who want versatility from urban to adventure settings?
Versatility has long been a cornerstone of our brand and product philosophy. We estimate that 90 per cent of what most consumers are doing outdoors does not require overly technical or specialised gear. Too much tech can be a barrier for both first-timers and long-time enthusiasts. This is one of the reasons we focus on versatility and durability.
We believe nature and adventure are good for the soul. It is a simple, yet profound philosophy that we have adopted as our mission. We strive to give our fans the very best and most versatile gear to fuel those adventures.
As you look to the future, what other innovations or design trends do you see Royal Robbins pursuing?
We want to help get people outside, and into adventures. We have a guiding thought that “Nature and Adventure are good for the soul”. We believe this to be a universal truth. We also believe that great versatile gear is what helps people get out there. You do not need a lot of fancy stuff to hike, climb or camp. We continue to lead with innovations that align with our commitment to versatility, comfort and sustainability. We think that will cover about 90 per cent of what most people do and need while outdoors. In doing so, we maintain our focus on natural fibres while delivering on consumer needs in ways that minimise our impact on the planet.
