David Gensler on Global Outdoor Culture: Nature, Authenticity & Future Brands
David Gensler global outdoor culture is the focus of this two-part Vanish conversation. In Part 1, David speaks about nature, authenticity, China, Korea, and the brands reshaping outdoor fashion and design.
David Gensler Global Outdoor Culture: The Outdoor Moment
Vanish: Let’s touch on a potentially dangerous topic for us. Vanish is a brand focused on outdoor culture. Right now, “outdoor” is hotter than ever. Why? And more importantly, how long does this hot “outdoor” trend last?
David Gensler: I don’t think it’s a dangerous topic at all — only because our content and our audience are the epitome of authenticity.
For us, Vanish and this culture come from a pure relationship between nature, design, innovation, and the future.
In that sense, I think it’s a trend like any other trend for those who need trends due to a lack of authentic creativity. Eventually, I’m sure “they” will move on to whatever cultural fad helps them sell some useless commodity.
Nature Beyond the Trend
However, beyond the trend of outdoor, we do see a real movement. The spark may have come from social media, but it has ignited something inside us as humans: a biological and even spiritual need for nature.
Meanwhile, technology has rapidly exploded into a tsunami of new tools — some helpful, most mere distractions. As the world becomes more virtual, nature becomes more essential.
Ultimately, we are not robots or androids. We need nature to recharge, heal, and grow.
So maybe the collective return to nature isn’t a trend. Instead, maybe it’s a subconscious biological imperative to return home to nature.
For Vanish and those we cover and collaborate with, nature, the outdoors, and the future are in our DNA. Therefore, it’s not a temporary passing energy — it’s what gives us life.
David Gensler on Authenticity in Global Outdoor Culture
Vanish: What makes a creator or brand authentic?
David Gensler: Authenticity is messy, imperfect, often chaotic, and many times it fails by conventional standards.
At first, common ears can’t hear the authentic voice until it reaches scale — at which point it most certainly began chasing the next vision or dream.
In many cases, “authentic” is typically smaller than mass success and measures success in different terms.
Still, these authentic visions are the sun that seed and grow the future, so we have dedicated Vanish to forming close relationships with these authentic creators.
Brands Shaping David Gensler Global Outdoor Culture
Vanish: What are some examples of authentic voices that inspire you the most?
David Gensler: Fortunate for me, and Vanish, there are many. My friends Jeff and Karina Griffin are top of my list — great people and a beautiful brand. Griffin and Loveland are the best examples of love manifested into fashion inside our culture. They do it their way, and their way is real.
Additionally, the young brand Seeing Red, also from England, is on my list — a small company with a big vision and amazing aesthetic.
Creators, Friends, and Future-Facing Brands
Also, my friends Remington and Heather from A.B.C. — Advisory Board Crystals relocated to Japan last year. They are a force both in and beyond fashion. You’re going to see some game-changing design from them this year.
Another friend that humbles me with his talent and grace is Hiroshi Nozawa. His long life’s work has helped define Japan’s dominance in global outdoor culture, but his current work on his brands Norbit and Wfeld excites me most.
Beyond that, I also love the path of China’s Panda Prank. Their perfectly executed first-generation reworked shoes were on a different level of craft. Their Nike trail low is my personal favorite shoe. I own them. Their new completely original designs are game changers.
Right now, there are many others from China — no one can avoid the energy and insane visions coming out of China at the moment. In fact, they are simply redefining the global aesthetic.
China, Korea, and the Future of Outdoor Design
Vanish: Redefining the global aesthetic is a big statement that will surely upset many traditional, well-established brands, especially in the States and Europe?
David Gensler: Too bad!
Tradition regarding aesthetics is an anchor keeping you from creating the future. Likewise, tradition in a space defined by performance and innovation is a hamster wheel going nowhere. The Chinese seem to be focused acutely on the future.
Chinese Brands and the New Global Aesthetic
For instance, William Shen’s brand Raxxy is nearly impossible to describe unless you experience the brand, the garments, in person: the manifested collision of mathematics and poetry.
Similarly, the futuristic vision of Hamcus feels like the trailer to the next Ridley Scott blockbuster film.
In addition, Uppervoid has a focused vision, brilliant product, and genius leadership. In the next two years, I predict they will be a global powerhouse brand challenging the big brands.
Lastly, on my China list is Dingyun Zhang. His graduated collection had more radical impact on fashion culture than anyone in recent history. After that, he carried that energy to his work with Kanye West and the Yeezy brand, and now his own label and new collaborations. America simply isn’t producing this level of future right now.
As a result, American imperialism, ironically, doesn’t inspire capitalist innovation. America needs a creative reset.
Korea and David Gensler on Global Outdoor Culture
Vanish: We just visited Korea on our world tour. Do you see the same energy there?
David Gensler: To a degree, yes. For example, Post Archive Faction is such a beautifully executed vision.
Another example is my dear friend Max Han, who runs an innovative factory that produces some of the world’s most advanced garments. His personal vision is powerful, and more importantly, he understands how to recognize talent and turn creative visions into future realities.
In Part 2, David Gensler turns toward Japan’s defining influence on global outdoor culture. From there, he speaks to the larger Vanish vision beyond media — into physical experiences, product, technology, and a deeper relationship with nature.
