Elkommando Kilt in different colours.

[KiltRevival]

Currently as its Autumn/winter in the US the Elkommando Kilt is no longer in stock, but this maybe the best time to contact the company about offering next seasons kilt in different colours such as Black and Khaki for example.

Does anyone know who is the best person to contact at Mountain hardwear in regards to this and can we organise an effort from guys on this site, for all of us the email them to see if they will provide other colours?

[CMcG]

Good idea. You could also add a poll to this thread re: colour options and then send a link to Mountain Hardwear, instead of inundating them with individual emails. Also, give them links for the other discussion threads regarding the Elkommando that have come up on Xmarks before.

[Spc. Scott]

Good idea. You could also add a poll to this thread re: colour options and then send a link to Mountain Hardwear, instead of inundating them with individual emails. Also, give them links for the other discussion threads regarding the Elkommando that have come up on Xmarks before.

That is a good idea. After hiking this summer in one I would love to have a second in a different color to throw in my pack.

[brewerpaul]

These are all good ideas and should be implimented but dont expect results this year. The reason I say that is because 2013 summer buying has already happened. I was involved (co-owned) and worked in outdoor retail for a few years and what happens for the retail buying end is you do it 6-8 months in advanced. This means next years summer items have already been picked, ordered and are in the pipes to be made. This is done so the wholesale industry (Columbia, Jansport, Kelty, MSR and all the others) know what to produce, how much and are able to make and ship only what they need. You can google up Outdoor Retailer and see that the Summer 2013 buying show happened this past August in Salt Lake City. This is the contries biggest outdoor retalier buying show that happens in the summer and winter. So this means the Winter 2013 show will be likely in January for fall/winter 2013. More than likely Mountain Hardwear has already produced what they will for the coming summer. REI being thier main outlet has plunked down the money and perhaps some other places will get some ElKommando kilts. If they have bothered to look at prior feedback they will offer more colors. If they go with what has worked they will just have the brown. I say go ahead and email them and send links to some of our posts. Ive lead climbs in my ElKommando and own two so Ill be glad to add to the emails. Dont hold back on emails, the more the see the more receptive they might be. The saying goes " THe squeaky wheel gets greased" so dont hold back.

As an aside from this the outdoor retail business is very hard for the small business owner. It is like being a coustom kilt maker. You hope your audience/clients are faithful. With the advent of major stores (JCPenney, Dillards,Jacks and many others) buying the trendy outdoor clothing it became very difficult for the small retailers to stay alive. This happens because the big guys will buy large amounts which guarentees Columbia and others show a profit. That is all well and good but when these big companies get thier stock before the small guys do they can have it on the shelf and eventually on sale before you can unpack yours. It was hard to keep ahead of the curve by offering more unique items above and beyond the Bugaboo coats and North Face fleece. Like kilts outdoor gear is a niche market but unlike kilts it has spread to the big box. The small stores that put Columbia on the map are now days finding it hard to stay alive. I guess what I am saying is if at all possible support your local kilt and kit companies and your local outdoor retailers. The fact that REI has a lock on the ELKommandos means you have to go to them but at least they are a co-op.

So send Mountain Hardwear lots of emails, photos of ElKommando's in action and lots of requests for color changes. Perhaps in 2014 they will listen, if they havent already to last years requests....

Excuse the typos as the pc I was using was as bad at typo correcting as I was. oop:

[KiltRevival]

Hey Brewerpaul, Thanks for this information. Do you know the best place to send an email?

[brewerpaul]

Hey Brewerpaul, Thanks for this information. Do you know the best place to send an email?

I would try the Mountain Hardwear contact page on their website. I would pick Product Information from the Message Subject dropdown list and make sure to include ElKommando as the product name. Then leave a personal message stating your desire for more colors or any other options/improvements you might wish. Encourage your other ElKommando kilt wearers to do the same. Include reference to XMarks and some of the threads. I have a couple of threads here about the ElKommando with photos fully loaded on Mt Baker. The more people who write the better.

Here is the direct link to the contact page

https://www.mountainhardwear.com/Con...efault,pg.html