KLAUS OBERMEYER SKI WEAR: IT WAS NEVER DOWNHILL FROM THERE
by Anita Sarko
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| KLAUS OBERMEYER and his famous ski boot. |
| Have you ever wondered who invented the down parka? How about mirrored sunglasses? Or even the turtleneck sweater? Well, someone had to, right? The inventor of all these items that we take for granted as staples in winter and winter sports was a former ski instructor turned ski mogul (no pun intended) Klaus Obermeyer. And he didn’t patent anything except a ski boot whose warm liner molded to your feet inside another stiff plastic outer layer ... Born in a German alpine village and a fixture in Aspen since 1947, the 90-year-old Obermeyer is still the snow bunny he ever was and still thinking all the time about how to make life better for anyone who has ever swooned at a snowflake. I interviewed the energetic, constantly laughing, still skiing, still inventing “Mayor of Aspen” (as someone described him to me) via phone: AS: How did you create the down parka?
AS: Your pieces are sold in NYC at Paragon alongside astronomically priced skiwear. The buyer said, “Obermeyer represents the quintessential ski line. It’s almost synonymous with skiing. It’s a heritage line.” He said you keep up with styles and the company has a great attitude insofar as function, fashion, quality and price. How do you keep your prices so reasonable? KO: We charge enough to use the very best in the construction. We try to make things with a very fair price/value relationship. We charge enough for the best zippers, waterproofing, comfort, breathable non-noisy, non- wrinkling materials so they can last. We are fortunate to have some of the best factories in the world. Some companies just put on high prices. We come from a world that was not materialistic. When I raced as a child, I won Swiss cheese or honey. It was a totally idealistic thing. We never did it for money. The problem we ski instructors had when I first came to Aspen was that the people with reservations left after 2 days. My class began with 9 or 10 and, later in the week, became 4 or 5. What made our business was to make it more comfortable and safer so they would stay the full 14 days. The high altitude sun lotions, mirrored glasses that stopped the ultra violet rays, lighter aluminum ski poles ... they worked. Then, someone in my ski class from Chicago said he could sell the turtlenecks. |
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| L. to r.: Women’s GO GO SWEATER ($125 Color: Black); Men’s FLEX BAMBOO MESH TOP ($85. Color: Pewter). |
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| L. to r.: Boy’s VANQUISH JACKET ($179.50. Color: Kyptonite); Women’s ASTON SHELL ($375 Color: Black). |
| AS: Do you still ski? KO: I ski every day and at least 4 hours on the weekends. If it snows more 6 than inches, everyone at my company can go skiing for 2 hrs or so and, then, make up for it in the evening. To share a pleasure makes twice the pleasure. To share a hurt makes half the hurt. AS: I understand that you are very committed to the green movement. KO: We want to step lightly onto our planet. The Indians stepped lightly on it. Before they cut a tree, they begged its pardon. Our office building in Aspen is 60% solar-heated. We manufacture in the Pacific Rim. Our clothing also represents this philosophy. We produce ultra gear ... a first layer to keep you warm and dry ... out of bamboo. Bamboo grows 2 to 3 feet a day, so it replaces itself very quickly. Bamboo is antimicrobial: There’s no need for chemicals. And it feels like silk. We also make materials from recycled plastic bottles. That’s why we warn, ‘If you buy one of our shirts, it might have a bit of an orange taste.’ |
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| L. to r.: Women’s ATHENA PANT ($225 Color: Black); Women’s BOND PANT ($199.50 Color: Mica); Men’s DOMINATE PANT ($259.50. Color: Black). |
| AS: How do you feel about extreme sports? KO: I think it’s wonderful. It is the bridge to the future. You want to use a great first layer. Very few people do B.A.S.E. jumping. However, so many of our friends have died doing this. We don’t do winged suits because I don’t want to be connected with extreme things that young people kill themselves doing. What is happening now is that people are climbing mountains again ... like we did before ski lifts. Jackets need to be light and vent very well. We’re adjusting part of our collection for that. All of our parkas vent. AS: Which of your inventions are you the most proud of? KO: I’m not proud of anything. One complicated thing was the suntan lotion. We are no longer making it. That helped a lot of people. Another was the first double ski boot that allowed you to ski well with comfort. The mirrored glasses I developed w/ a company in France. We worked on a way where you can electrically meld metal to glass. People thought I was crazy. We also developed a new two-pronged ski stopper that stopped skis from going down when you came out from the bindings. |
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| L. to r.: Boy’s BOOM JACKET ($169.50. Color: Surf); Women’s JINX JACKET ($425 Color: Brilliant Blue). |
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| L. to r.: Girl’s DAKOTA FLEECE TOP ($69.50. Color: Black); Boy’s DOWN INSULATOR ($139.50 Color: White). |
| AS: How did you have the chops to create everything? KO: By profession, I’m an aeronautical engineer. This is why Germany lost the war. (He bursts out laughing) Function, simplicity: It should work well so we don’t cheat anyone. At my company, I’m the Function Policeman: Does it vent, is it waterproof, breathable, light enough, does it fit well? (For instance), from pre-shaped elbows and knees, we developed pre-shaped gloves. Fingers are not straight. Now, almost all gloves are pre-shaped. We even put something on the back of gloves so you can wipe your nose! For children, we developed the I-Grow sleeves & pants. They have a thread that makes them an inch longer when needed. AS: What about equipment? KO: The step-in binding ... so you don’t have to bend down. The short skis, so you can carve. I helped Howard Head develop the Head Ski from metals, so you could turn easier. Howard could only do ski plow turns. The first ones shook when you went fast. I said, “Howard, those skis are too nervous. You need more wood.” He was a revolutionary. He was also an engineer. |
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| L. to r.: Preschool Girls COZY REVERSIBLE BUNTING ($99.50. COLOR: Passion Flower); Girl’s CARRINGTON PANT ($109.50, Color: Lagoon); Preschool Boys MECHANIC SUIT ($169.50. Color: Robo). |
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| L. to r.: Men’s STRENGTH JACKET ($459.50 Color: Raven); Women’s XARA JACKET ($299.50 Color: Loden). |
| AS: You’re still skiing at 90. What is the earliest and latest for beginners? KO: Earliest is 3 years old. Keep them warm because kids have little body heat. My youngest son (of four children) was 14-months old and I skied him down Aspen Mt. on my back. I don’t think there’s a latest because of today’s snow grooming techniques. My dad learned to ski at 65 and my mom was 60. As long as you’re healthy and in good shape, you can learn when you’re 80. |
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