Fashion / brief
Cole Sparrow-Crawford Brings Salish Winter to Arc'teryx's Walk Gently
The Musqueam designer connects weaving, hide tanning and winter travel to a collection built around Salish relationships with the land.
Inspired by Salish weaving, hide tanning and winter harvesting, Cole Sparrow-Crawford designed the fourth Walk Gently collection for Arc'teryx. Salish Winter comprises six gender-neutral apparel and footwear designs, with colours, patterns and stories drawn from the land and the communities he describes in the collection’s press kit.
Sparrow-Crawford, of xʷməθkʷəyəm (Musqueam), is Walk Gently’s creative lead and founder. Raised in the Musqueam village, he describes knowledge passed down through generations as a foundation for his work in art, business and decolonial practice.
“Since time immemorial, Salish people have crafted technical gear out of natural materials to traverse the land and survive harsh winter conditions,” he says in the kit.
His designs connect that history to winter gatherings and movement through Salish territory. As he puts it, “these pieces are about moving with the land, celebrating our winter traditions and respecting the natural world that supports our way of life.”
Weaving, Harvesting and Winter Travel
The collection’s patterns and construction references come from practices Sparrow-Crawford describes as continuing parts of Salish life. He links weaving and sweater-making to textile knowledge, deer to food and clothing, and winter equipment to gathering, harvesting and providing for the community.
The Real Cedar LS T-Shirt uses a bark-inspired camouflage print and a bright orange Walk Gently logo on the back. The kit describes cedar as the tree of life in Salish culture and connects the print to the forests of Salish territory.
The Mutton Insulated Jacket is named after Mutton, a Salish Woolly Dog. The jacket pairs a shawl collar with stitching that echoes Salish sweater-makers’ patterns, reinterpreted with synthetic insulation.
The Dekoi Hardshell takes its name from a variation of the word decoy. Its deer-fur-like GORE-TEX print is combined with high-visibility orange panels cut and sewn into the fabric, referencing winter harvesting. The kit specifies 70-denier GORE-TEX PRO ePE recycled-nylon fabric.
The Adze Pant draws on a carving tool found across Salish territory. Its leg detailing includes a triangular form referencing the adze, while the insulated softshell design has articulated patterning and adjustable hems for movement in cold, wet conditions.
The Selisya Toque is named for Musqueam weaver Selisya Charlie. Its knit design draws on Salish sweaters and the hand-knit gear made by Salish communities.
The Konseal Trek footwear carries a cedar-referencing camouflage print, connecting winter travel to the use of natural materials and patterns for moving through the land. The kit calls it a shoe; Arc'teryx’s Canadian storefront lists men’s and women’s Trek Boots.
An Indigenous Design Platform
Arc'teryx, the North Vancouver technical outerwear and equipment company, launched Walk Gently in 2024 to share Indigenous artists’ and designers’ work and stories. The company says the platform seeks to increase Indigenous representation in mountain spaces and the outdoor industry.
The Salish Winter campaign’s named cast includes Sydney Pascal of Lílwat Nation; Lexamiya (Joy Hall) of Sq’ewqeyl (Skowkale) Nation; and Kaxte Eylexw (Keegan Charlie) and Tixweltel (Kelsey Charlie) of Stsʼaʼí:les (Chehalis) Nation.
Walk Gently says it donates funds and products from each collection directly to the communities it works with. The kit also describes support for organizations nurturing Indigenous connections with land and mountains: “Through grants and partnerships, we lift and amplify communities and organizations that directly support Indigenous people.”
Salish Winter is available at Arc'teryx stores and select global retailers, according to the company. Pieces are also listed on its Canadian website.
