At the very least, outerwear should be three things: comfortable, capable and durable. If your down jacket fits right, can handle the elements you’re braving and can stand up to hiking, climbing, camping and more, it fits the bill and should serve you well for years to come.
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But what about the less tangible, still important aspect of style? Do you want to walk around in a shapeless, trash bag-like puffy resembling the Stay-Puft Marshmallow Man, or would you rather slip on something that not only feels good and performs well, but also reflects your personal panache? If you’re like me, you prefer the latter — and if you’re looking for a brand that can keep you warm and cool (looking) at the same time, let me introduce you to FP Movement.
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You may already be familiar with Free People, the bohemian-inspired sister brand to Urban Outfitters and Anthropologie with well over 4 million Instagram followers. If not, here’s a quick recap: Free People was actually the name of the original West Philadelphia retail store launched by Richard Hayne, Judy Wicks and Scott Belair in 1970 that became Urban Outfitters.
The name Free People found new life as a wholesale line in 1984, carving out a nice with nonconformist women’s clothing that is decidedly not outdoor-oriented at all. In 2012, the brand launched its activewear line, FP Movement, and in 2019, ramped it up with a focus on fitness, wellness and, somewhat surprisingly, outerwear.
You may be rolling your eyes at this point — “How can a fashion brand compete with Patagonia or The North Face?” — but FP Movement didn’t just slap its tag on a white label puffy and call it a day. The team pulled in quality components to keep its customers properly warm, including Primaloft, which plays into the majority of its insulated outerwear. (The synthetic insulation is also used by Patagonia, Black Diamond, La Sportiva and Norrøna, among more than 50 other brands.)
