The North Face: new collaboration with Travis Weller

In reimagining the collection, Travis Weller was inspired by the signature colours of the famous Western States 100 ultra trail race: the orange of the Sierra Nevada trails and the green of the lush forests that frame this gruelling course.

In addition to earning a Master of Fine Arts degree from Western Carolina University, Travis has an impressive list of honours as a trail runner, including a coveted sub-22 hour gold buckle at the Oil Creek 100 trail race. Although he dreams of running the Western States 100, Travis admits that the thought of scorching temperatures has so far put him off. Trail running is an alternative form of creative therapy, offering a chance to let your thoughts flow freely, just like the trails along California’s Mount Tamalpais.

Commenting on the collaboration with The North Face, Travis Weller explained that “trail running brings clarity to my life. The colours are more vivid on the mountain tops and the emotions are stronger and deeper when you are in the woods. These abstractions in nature are the basis of my work and this collaboration. When I think of the Western States 100 and all the times I have made the journey to see the race, there are three distinct sections of the course that I have clear in my mind. Each has unique characteristics that bring out the character and personality of each of the athletes in the race. In developing this collab, I was guided by the desire to create a colourful story based on the specific environment and emotions of the runners testing themselves on that difficult course”.