Icebreaker - Pure Merino

Icebreaker ambassador, Mark Campbell visited our Montreal TouchLab last week  and talked about his own running adventures at our Montreal-NYC run event. Below he shares with us his thoughts about the run and the crew.

I am back at home in Nova Scotia after a trip to the kick-off for an Icebreaker-sponsored running adventure from Montréal to New York.  The two teams, organized by Montreal trainer group Esprit de Corps are a diverse bunch and include former NHL tough guy Georges Laraque, who has taken on a new role as an enforcer for positive change and goodwill.  The run raises funds for Esprit de Corp’s charity helping disadvantaged families experience outdoor adventure. I was inspired by the runners’ positive energy and it was great to see first-hand a partnership between a company like Icebreaker and cause. It was also great to meet the Icebreaker crew who are without exception, dynamic and amazingly friendly.

Many in the Montreal-NYC group have made life changes and trained very hard to be able to accomplish this challenge. I was invited to present a bit of my own story of going from out of shape, unemployed and without purpose, to becoming physically active and involved in many projects and charities – in particular the Brigadoon Kids Camp for chronically ill kids.  Years ago, I had an epiphany about how my own activities were really me “playing”, and how many people and kids never get that opportunity. I decided to try and help others find opportunities to discover that same joy.  You don’t have to be a superhero to have a great impact: I feel we are all blessed with our own superpowers and using them for good, enriches our lives. The Montreal-NYC runners are definitely some of that breed.  I was honoured to meet them and spend a little time with them.  Good luck, enjoy the experience, and thank you. You definitely don’t stink!

- Mark Campbell – Dartmouth, Nova Scotia

Salam Alikom.  A long overdue update from the Icebreaker crew shooting our Spring/Summer 12 collection in Morocco.

We’ve just completed Day 5 of the shoot and things are off to a good start.

After landing in Casablanca, we drove to Marrakech where we based ourselves.  We haven’t had the warmest of weather, in fact we got caught in a rather unseasonal snow storm as we passed through the Atlas Mountains.  Locals were saying they hadn’t seen snow in there in 5 yrs.

Being Kiwis, we’re used to having a diverse number of eating options at the ready. Sadly, even though we love Moroccan cuisine – you get tired of only having 2 choices every time you sit down for a meal. It’s either chicken and lemon tagine, or lamb and vegetable couscous. Things we’re looking up today as there was Riz Kashmir (turkey in curry with rice), 6 out of our crew of 7 ordered it.

Bachir, our guide has been great.  He’s hooked us up with his driver friends Abdula and Mohammed.  His negotiation skills are paramount as he helps us navigate our way north.  We’re on route to Fez tomorrow before we hit the coast.  It should be good although there are a fair few km’s to cover over the next few days.  If you know anyone in Morocco, we’re still on the lookout for a donkey and good looking handler.

Here are a few shots of our journey, more can be found here.  Enjoy.

Fred l’Ami, Icebreaker Design Director – Graphics

Our new SoHo TouchLab store hosted New York City’s Waitangi Day (New Zealand’s national holiday) celebration earlier this month.Organized by Kea New Zealand, the number of Kiwis in the TouchLab far outweighed the number of Americans. It was so interesting to see how both our US customers and our own local staff were fascinated by New Zealand culture. Two highlights were definitely the NZ national anthem (especially the Maori version), and all partaking in a good ol’ mince and cheese pie.

With over a 100 New Zealanders in one room you would need a degree in math to count the number of times ‘bro’ and ‘sweet as’ were thrown around. However, the most interesting ruling of the night must have been one US staff member’s assertion that “the more shit Kiwis give you, the more they like you”. This was especially true with guest speaker, New Zealand’s Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations Jim McLay’s speech, as full of sentiment and informing as it was, not passing by without a jab at the Aussies and a joke about sheep.

With discounted Icebreaker merchandise, staff were kept running all night and the floor was suitably bare the next morning. It was also a pleasant surprise that with such a high volume of beer, wine and New Zealanders in one room, the only damage were three garments that happened upon some red wine.

Thanks to all who turned up or helped out and made the night such a great success! Though there were a few weary souls at work the next morning, we all had a great time and look forward to doing it all again next year.

- Gretchen Low, Sales Associate Icebreaker TouchLab SoHo NYC