When it comes to designing fashionable active and outdoor apparel, Christie Orlando has a hefty resume. Her creativity has influenced brands like Champion, Fenty X Puma by Rihanna, Six : 02 by Foot Locker, and G Sport for Goop by Gwyneth Paltrow. She is also a co-founder of Alala, the women’s activewear brand dedicated to all-day style for busy women who still want the benefits of functional fabrics in activewear that is stylish and comfortable.

Christie’s design aesthetic captures the essence of a brand and interprets it in sophisticated yet approachable apparel collections based on premium fabrics, technical performance, excellent fit, and flattering silhouettes. This keen, multi-functional creative ability as well as her experience with collaboration made Christie the perfect person to set the design direction for the apparel items in the TREE-CLIMATE collection. With sustainable fabrics developed by the legendary David Parkes, TREE-CLIMATE is Lenzing’s first major capsule collection made with TENCEL™ branded lyocell fibers and specially designed for the Outdoor apparel market.

“The TREE-CLIMATE fabrics with TENCEL™ Lyocell fibers are the heart and soul of this collection,” Christie told us. “David Parkes has designed so many spectacular options ranging from the iconic ‘reverse weave’ sweat shirt material I loved from my days at Champion to beautiful flannels and textured wovens. Designing the garments to showcase these outstanding performance fabrics was a pleasure. I think the outdoor consumer will be thrilled with TREE-CLIMATE. The collection speaks to them as responsible, active consumers who require functionality and comfort in perfectly designed clothing.”

The outdoor and active person today expects apparel to provide the necessary technical benefits as well as look beautiful and feel wonderful. “These consumers have very strong opinions about all aspects of their clothes from the way the fabric feels against their skin, to the minute details that enable the clothes to fit and move well, to the rich colors and thoughtful touches that make a garment visually appealing.” Christie knows this consumer well and has applied her skills to create beautiful, sustainable performance clothing that celebrates the outdoor spirit of the TREE-CLIMATE collection.

Christie’s skill at collaboration also came into play with TREE-CLIMATE. “I know that the best apparel results when a designer truly understands the fabrics. David and the mills are wonderful partners and shared everything I needed to know to understand how these sustainable performance fabrics would work in the designs I planned for them.” TENCEL™ branded lyocell fibers are key to making the TREE-CLIMATE fabrics super soft, supple, skin-friendly, dyeable, and resilient. In addition, the botanic fibers bring naturally inherent performance benefits like moisture management and thermal regulation.

While the outdoor consumer is no stranger to premium fabrics and excellent design, the sustainability benefit of TENCEL™ Lyocell made fabrics is an important new value-added feature for them. People who treasure the outdoors are eager for more environmentally friendly apparel options. Made from renewable, responsibly harvested wood in a closed loop, resource efficient production facility, TENCEL™ Lyocell fibers enhance the sustainability of any fabric.

Christie’s vision for the TREE-CLIMATE collection is to celebrate the storied past of the outdoor market as well as to inspire it with comfort, performance, versatility, all-day good looks, and, of course, sustainability. The beautiful fabrics made by TENCEL™ Lyocell fibers created by David Parkes and Lenzing partner mills will be showcased in her designs ranging from sweaters and jerseys to jackets and base layer.

Christie Orlando’s TREE-CLIMATE designs will be on display at Functional Fabric Fair in Portland October 22-23 in the Concept III booth # 614, 617, and 618 as well as at the Lenzing booth #519.