New Zealand-born brand Kathmandu has commenced a long-term partnership with adventure platform Her Trails.
Founded by Samantha Gash and Bec Taylor, Her Trails has a membership of over 4,000 women spanning Australia and New Zealand and supports their pursuit of outdoor adventures across all levels of fitness and experience.
The partnership will revolve around creative and technical product design. Over time, Gash and the Her Trails team will be integrated into the broader Kathmandu business where they will inform the brand’s active product development.
Kathmandu GM of marketing and customer Richard Dalke said the partnership was driven by research that showed women experience barriers to getting active in the outdoors.
“With a purpose to improve the wellbeing of the world through the outdoors, it is imperative for Kathmandu to align with a partner that gives women a platform to experience the transformative power of nature, while feeling safe and part of something special,” Dalke said. “Her Trails is that partner.
“The vibrant community Samantha Gash and Bec Taylor have cultivated is incredible, and we are proud of the small part we play in empowering women across the globe to seek challenge, adventure, growth and importantly, joy, using the outdoors as their launch pad, and the expertise of the Her Trails team to guide them.”
Co-founder Gash said Kathmandu and Her Trails share a mutual strategy for supporting women to get active outdoors.
“Beyond that, Kathmandu ensures Her Trails members can access the best gear possible, that supports performance, aids in protection, and ensures they look and feel great on the trail,” Gash said.
“Her Trails is not just about the exploration of the world outside, but also about delving deep into one’s inner self. We’ve created a space where women, from all walks of life, come together, embrace their vulnerabilities, and transform these into strengths.
“Every step on the trail is a step towards self-discovery and empowerment.”
Her Trails provides women with a series of entry points, including annual memberships, trail running programs between 10kms to 100kms, fortnightly group runs in Melbourne, Brisbane, Sydney, Adelaide and Launceston, and adventure retreats.