The inside line on the next big thing to hit the market: Hudsen Collective. Introducing a line of gloves designed to bring a vintage, street style to the mountains effectively and efficiently, all while overhauling what it means to make durable gear.

Read on — you’re going to want to get familiar.

THE HOW

Steve Fisher knows snowboarding. After turning pro at 18, Steve topped the X Games pipe podium twice, landed two Vans Triple Crown wins, took three Grand Prix Victories and four World Cup titles, and made a name for himself as one of the top halfpipe riders in the game. When the time eventually came for Steve to transition out of the spotlight, he found himself straying from the mountains and settling in as an account executive at a Denver advertising agency. It didn’t take long before Steve found a way to bring his two worlds together, however, and a casual call to legendary glove brand Swany quickly led him back to the snowboarding industry, in a role he never expected.

At the start of 2013, Swany was looking for a way to “young up” their brand, and though the agency wasn’t a fit for the job, Fisher was. By May of 2013, he was heading up a daunting, exciting new project: building a new brand. Technically an extension of the Swany brand, Hudsen Collective is tackling entirely new territory, bringing Swany’s tried and true durability to a younger generation; gloves specifically designed for snowboarders who need high quality, sturdy gloves that they actually want to wear.

Zack Black putting his mitts to good use | P: Lehl
Zack Black putting his mitts to good use | P: Lehl

THE WHAT

As a snowboarder designing gear for snowboarders, Fisher knew exactly what he wanted to create. Well aware of what was missing from the market, he sought to fill the void with Hudsen. Sick of going through upwards of ten pairs of gloves per year, Fisher’s collection zeroed-in on one feature in particular: moisture management. While brands across the market build their gear for warmth, Hudsen focuses heavily on moisture management, meaning that their gloves are not only among the warmest you’ll find, but the most durable. The gloves are built-out with real leather and Tri-plex H.D.T.(hyper drying tech) lining, with prima-loft insulation & charcoal bamboo fabric on the back of the hand. They also boast prima-loft grip and dyna-therm lining on the palm, meaning that these gloves will actual retain heat while wet, something no other fabric can do. For those who have spent days in damp, freezing cold gloves, this is nothing short of an epiphany.

The brand’s own mission statement neatly sums it up, “Hudsen Collective has created these gloves and mittens out of the necessity to stay out longer than ever, to push through even in the harshest condition on the most trying of days.”

THE WHY

Next up for Fisher: the why — why jump head first into the glove market? What’s the goal? Fisher simply explains that there has long been a gap in the market, a lack of mid to high-end gloves that were not only affordable, but stylish. Riders were either stuck replacing trendy gloves on repeat, or pulling on some very burly, slight embarrassing mammoth pair of gloves that you can count on. Enter: Hudsen. With prices capping out at $110, the gloves are actually far more affordable that your standard pair of $60 gloves, as you won’t find yourself replacing them three times over every season. As Fisher notes, Hudsen’s focus is on brand loyalty, meaning it intends to turn all first-time buyers into life-long customers. Quality is key, and Hudsen Collective has got it dialed.

Scotty Lago shows off his signature Harlan gloves
Scotty Lago shows off his signature Harlan gloves | P: Lehl

THE WHO

When seeking out riders to represent the new brand, Fisher sought out those who have roots planted solidly within the industry; hard-charging riders who are also respected for their dedication to snowboarding as a whole. Scotty Lago, Zack Black, Jenny Jones, Brett Esser, Celia Miller, Stefi Luxton and Jordy Karlinski round out the inaugural Hudsen crew, ranging from Olympic vets like Lago to newcomers like Karlinski who is quickly making a name for herself in slopestyle.

Not your typical trigger mitt: The Calvin
Not your typical trigger mitt: The Calvin | P: Lehl

& WHAT’S NEXT

With a solid foundation in place, a ream of sleek, stylish and strong gloves set to make their 2014 debut, Fisher’s focus is now on growth. The brand will continue building upon what’s already in place, further perfecting tech and delving deeper into utilizing natural products with technical capabilities within the line. Focus is on sustainability processes and eco-friendly fabrics, as Fisher and Hudsen continue to push the boundaries of what’s possible.

What Fisher and Swany have created is far from your standard brand. Hudsen Collective is taking the market to new levels, imbuing their gear with the best tech yet created, without compromising an ounce of style in the process. Take note, this brand is doing big things.