British outerwear brand Berghaus has delved deep into its archives to relaunch an ‘Icons’ collection.
Three jackets have been “updated for the summits and streets of 2024”, with long-time fan of the brand Liam Gallagher fronting the campaign wearing the iconic ‘Trango’ jacket.
Legendary British mountaineer Sir Chris Bonington, who wore Berghaus when he summited Everest 40 years ago, also features in the campaign, which was shot by British photographer Alasdair McLellan.
However, it was when Gallagher wore a Berghaus jacket on stage in Oslo, Norway, in 1997, on night one of Oasis’s European leg of the ‘Be Here Now’ tour, that the brand entered a new space.
The logo evolved into a badge of honour across subcultures, with the brand’s bold, multi-panel outerwear becoming synonymous with rave culture, the ‘Madchester’ scene, and even the football terrace Casuals.
Three decades later, Gallagher is back in Berghaus and Oasis dominate the airwaves again. The launch of the ‘Icons’ collection now marks a major moment for the brand as it embarks on “a new chapter of reclaiming its rightful place at the heart of British streetwear”.
Liam Gallagher said: “My first encounter with Berghaus was through my brother Noel. He purchased a green one in the late 80s and I was always pinching it off him. They were all the rage, and I couldn’t wait to get my hands on one of my own.
“I thought to myself ‘when I’m rich and famous I’m getting myself one.’ I finally did that and I’ve still got it to this day. To be asked to work with them on their comeback means a lot.”
Founded above a shop in Newcastle Upon Tyne in 1966 by mountaineers Peter Lockey and Gordon Davidson, Berghaus has been a maverick of the outdoor scene for more than half a century. A bold, insouciant approach to outdoor clothing is the Berghaus aesthetic – driven by colour, cutting edge technology and a dedication to reliable performance.
The ‘Trango’ jacket was launched in 1986, initially designed for the first British attempt to summit K2, and quickly adopted by the Keswick Mountain Rescue Team in the Lake District. The bold colourway and use of 3L Gore-Tex set it aside from the rest of the market, and its lightweight breathability set a new precedent for extreme conditions outerwear. The AW24 reissue is the exact same silhouette, but now features Gore-Tex’s latest ePE 3L sustainable waterproofing technology. It’s now retailing at £400.
Earlier than that, in 1979, Berghaus became the first British brand to manufacture specialist “warm-giving” ski and winter mountaineering wear, and the ‘Lumley’ down jacket takes its cues from those early Berghaus designs. The AW24 ‘Lumley’ jacket is padded with 600 fill power Hydrodown, features an expedition style hood that is removable, secure pockets, and retro waist and hem adjustment for sharp style and a proper fit, retailing at £275. It comes in the original orange as well as navy blue.
The third addition is the ‘Mera Peak’, which was launched in 1991 and takes its name from the Mera Peak in the Khumbu region of Nepal. It’s described as “a true all-round performance piece designed with streetwear in mind”. The multi-panel, five-pocket jacket was adopted by the ‘Neds’ of the 90s house music scene. It features waterproof, breathable 2L Gore-Tex fabric and is retailing for £320.
The accompanying ‘Icons’ OOH campaign featuring Liam Gallagher is rolling out on billboards, murals and fly posters across London, Manchester and Newcastle, and the collection is available on the Berghaus website as well as at Selfridges, HIP, Fat Buddha, Size? and Working Class Heroes.
