686

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  686 The Times Levi's Trucker Insulated Jacket
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  686 The Times KR3W K-65 Jacket
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  686 The Times KR3W Lumberjack Soft Shell Jacket
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  686 The Times KR3W Lumberjack Soft Shell Jacket

Michael Akira West

The 686 Technical Apparel began with Michael Akira West’s interest in street skateboarding and snowboarding in the early eighties. When he graduated from the University of Southern California, West knew he had to do something with his life – something where he had nothing to lose. It was in November 13, 1992 when 686 Technical Apparel was formed. 686 got its name from the date June 6, 1986, which was a crucial date in West’s personal life. The label sought out to provide stylish outwear and technical apparel with the Los Angeles mountain lifestyle and street culture as their inspiration.

Being independent and unique is 686’s main objective. With the many artists working for their company, 686 has produced not only unique designs, but artistic and high class pieces of wearable clothing. 686’s artists include Andy Howell, Andy Jenkins, Scott Herskovitz, Brandi Milne, Jon Kennedy, Jin Houser, Travis Parr and famous photographer, Marc Lemoine.

686 is a varied collection for women and men’s wear as well as a line of technical apparel for the youth. In the men and women’s collections, 686 offers jackets, pants, gloves, belt, headwear, hoodies, t-shirts, winter coats, sweaters and even basic layering pieces for cold weather. In the youth collection, the brand offers snowboarding jackets, pants and other essential, basic technical apparel like gloves and headgear.

686 Jacket

With their brand slowly becoming a success, 686 collaborated with other labels such as Levis, Kr3w and Snaggletooth II to design and provide a limited line of original, edgy and fashionable apparel. 686 Technical Apparel has appeared in Snowboard Magazine, Freshness Magazine and Format Magazine. The label offers clothes in over 35 stores all over USA as well as in multiples stores in Canada, France, Germany, Austria, Europe, Japan, Australia, Korea and New Zealand. Online, the brand is sold at Karmaloop, Gear Buyer and Nextag.

From an honest and bold beginning, West surely had to take risks when he went into the clothing business. He went into the fashion industry with only his determination and inspiration of the mountain lifestyle. With his ambition, he was able to produce genius ideas to create a brand as successful as 686. It is not doubt that the 686 brand will surely lead a successful life in the fashion industry in the years to come.