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OUR STORY
Since 686 founder, Michael Akira West, first stepped on a skateboard as a youth in the early eighties, he immediately had a new addiction and inspiration. The freedom that skateboarding provided birthed a lifelong quest for freedom of expression through all forms of mediums. Throughout the following years, Mike transitioned from skateboarding to snowboarding, working and riding in Big Bear, CA and continually gathering and exploring new ideas including unique apparel based around the southern California snowboard scene.

On November 13, 1992 Mike officially launched Jib 686 Enterprises, a small collection of denim, technical outerwear and accessories. What began as a class project during his time at the University of Southern California was now a reality. In 1995 Jib 686 Enterprises became 686 Enterprises as Mike began to travel to larger mountains and encountered a scene and riding conditions vastly different from and far larger than the jib scene of his local resort, Big Bear. 1995 also saw the birth of the 686 SMARTY® 3-in-1 Cargo Pant. The SMARTY® 3-in-1 purposeful proposition later spawned other intelligent products such as the Original Toolbelt and Thermagraph® Body Mapping System that are still in the collection today.

The name “686” has its roots in numerics. There have been a lot of rumors about the meaning of 686, but 686 stems from personal dates and numbers in Mike's life that all merged together at the perfect time. However personal as it started, the number has now become synonymous with providing innovative, forward thinking outerwear and technical apparel inspired by the outdoors and mountain culture.

686 Technical Apparel continues to be independently owned and operated since 1992.

ABOUT US
For nearly three decades we’ve been developing, testing and engineering technical fabrications and laminations in apparel. Everything we do is based around innovation, people, purpose with the goal to build the best performance products with our active-minded community. We create products. We create community. We create experiences.

“When I started 686 in 1992, the plan was simple: Create the best products that allow you to enjoy the best experiences in winter on and off the mountain. The first ideals I wrote down where “provide more than they expect” and “average is not acceptable.” - Michael Akira West, Founder/CEO/Creative Director

Fast forward 29 years and while so much has changed, so much has remained the same. As an independently operated brand, we continue to strive beyond expectations by constantly creating innovative products, encouraging a diverse and inclusive atmosphere, constantly improving our sustainability stance and giving back to our communities both locally and globally.

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