686 Womens Outerwear F/W 2026/27 Preview

Retail Buyers Guide: Womens Outerwear F/W 2026/27 Retail Buyer’s Guide
Brand: 686
Interviewee: Brent Sandor, VP Marketing

In 2 sentences – how was the women’s snow outerwear market in 2025/26?
The women’s snow outerwear market continues to evolve and grow. We are seeing growth of contemporary styling in multiple directions – some want it baggy and some want more traditionally fitting skiwear. Both sides are thriving with more great options than ever.

What are the main trends you take your inspiration from for 2026/27?
We take inspirations from our team and their travels. From color to silhouette and graphics, everything is derived from the actual experience.

What new jacket fits and pant silhouettes are coming out in 2026/27?
We continue with our strong selling Outline “Loose Fit,” that looks good on a very wide variety of body shapes. We are introducing more cropped technical GORE-TEX and 3L jackets as riders are looking for freedom of movement and shorter styles.

Tell us about colours and prints:
Earth Tones mixed with bold athletic colors. All colors are derived from photos we collected along the way in our travels.

Any *NEW* technical stories with regards to fabrics and materials?
Over three quarters of our shell fabrics are recycled or from renewable resources, reducing our carbon footprint and reliance on virgin material.

How are you addressing sustainability topics, not only in production of your products (materials, transportation, packaging) but also their after-life / repurposing?
Our focus for sustainability remains with B Corp as our North Star and a focus on carbon footprint measurement and reduction, waster management during production and a local to global philoshopy.

How are you targeting the female boardsports clients?
We continue to work with, and provide space for, our athletes to thrive – including Savannah Shinske who is hot off an iconic segment in Atlas 2. Beyond our team, we are also building strong grassroots relationships throughout the women community via ride days and groups as well as ensuring we are present during key events.

What are your big marketing campaigns for 2026/27?
We will be celebrating 10 Years of GORE-TEX, with a spotlight on our new GORE-TEX Scheme Jacket and Outline Pant combo. We will be supporting various athlete projects. We will be on snow, forging stronger and deeper connections with women who ride and are looking to progress their riding via on and off snow activations.

Key Products:

Waterproof Team Crop Hoody:
Our team wanted a several iterations of a technical hoody that resembled a basic cotton hoody for filming—so we designed the Team Crop Hoody, which moves with your body like a classic hoodie but is equipped for winter. Its soft, stretchy 10k fabric and cinchable waist ensure you look good in the streets and stay comfortable on the slopes.

SMARTY® 3-in-1 Framework™ Jacket:
1 purchase, 2 jackets, 3 ways to wear—that’s 686 math. Made of 3L Sorona® Bio-Based sustainable fabric, the Framework Jacket is as light on your back as it is on the planet. The versatile shell fights off snow, rain, and wind with ease. The removable insulator vest is designed for ultimate temperature flexibility – leave it zipped in for cold days or remove it when things heat up. With large vents and a minimalist style, the Framework is our team’s favorite for both riding and traveling.

Outline™ Pant:
Say hello to the Outline Pant – the baggy pant that looks good on everyone. Designed with a wide leg, adjustable high waist, and adjustable cuffs, these pants deliver maximum freedom of movement and comfort. The Outline pant has quickly become a team and fan favorite due to its blend of comfort, style, waterproofing and tech. When you look good, you feel good and when you feel good you ride good. The more detail, opinion, description & comment you give us, the more we can feature you.