Before gorpcore was a thing and before technical shells became city staples, Arc’teryx and BEAMS were building one of the most influential collaborations in outdoor culture.
For a quarter century, Arc’teryx and Japanese retailer BEAMS have occupied the space between mountain performance and street culture. Long before tech shells became everyday city wear, the two brands were experimenting with the idea that gear built for alpine objectives could also carry cultural weight beyond the trailhead.
Now the Vancouver-born mountain brand and Tokyo-based tastemaker are marking the milestone with the limited-edition Arc’teryx x BEAMS Anniversary Collection, a release that looks back at the partnership’s origins while hinting at its future.
At the heart of the collection (available only in-store) is a resurrection of one of Arc’teryx’s most recognizable pieces: the Theta AR Jacket. Originally launched in 1998 and featured in the brands’ first collaborative capsule in 2001, the shell returns with modern materials and a distinctly Japanese aesthetic. Updated with waterproof, breathable GORE-TEX PRO ePE fabric, the jacket retains details that made it a favourite among climbers and skiers, including harness-compatible pockets and oversized zipper pulls.
“For 25 years, Arc’teryx and BEAMS have bridged two worlds…”
The collection’s visual identity is built around “Kōyō,” the Japanese tradition of autumn leaf viewing. Inspired by the fleeting beauty of seasonal transition, the palette pairs Arc’teryx earth tones with BEAMS’ signature orange.
“For 25 years, Arc’teryx and BEAMS have bridged two worlds, creating style-forward pieces that perform in the mountains,” said Katie Becker, Arc’teryx Chief Creative Officer. “What keeps us connected is our constant iteration, treating performance and creativity as one conversation, and that shared instinct is what’s made this an enduring partnership. Born from our climbing DNA, this collection is a celebration of our two design languages, and an exciting look at how much further this partnership can go.”
The anniversary release also marks a first for the collaboration: a complete bouldering kit. Alongside the Theta AR, the collection includes a Gamma softshell jacket, JOGEN climbing pants, a long-sleeve graphic T-shirt, a Konseal climbing pack and a Gamma Hat.
The Gamma Jacket revisits a classic Arc’teryx silhouette with a throwback logo treatment, while the JOGEN Pant blends technical climbing function with the relaxed, wide-leg styling often associated with contemporary Japanese fashion. The lightweight Konseal Pack, built from Arc’teryx’s abrasion-resistant Hadron fabric, rounds out the climbing-focused lineup.
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While collaborations between outdoor brands and fashion labels have become commonplace in recent years, the Arc’teryx-BEAMS relationship predates the trend by decades.
The story traces back to the late 1990s, when former BEAMS buyer Kei Hirosawa recognized something in Arc’teryx’s design philosophy that extended beyond the outdoor industry. Arc’teryx built its reputation on meticulous engineering and a relentless pursuit of performance. BEAMS, meanwhile, had become one of Japan’s most influential retailers by curating and reinterpreting global style through a Japanese lens.
“They connect people everywhere, from all walks of life.”
Hirosawa believed those worlds could intersect. In 2001, he helped launch the brands’ first collaborative collection, featuring the Arro Backpack and Theta AR Jacket. What began as a niche partnership eventually influenced the way technical apparel is viewed both on the mountain and in urban environments.
“From the beginning, the point was always to grow together and create something from scratch and something completely new,” said Hirosawa. “The pieces are designed for climbing and skiing—for the mountains. Yet, they represent ideas that go far beyond what was ever imagined in traditional outdoor gear. They connect people everywhere, from all walks of life.”
Hirosawa believed those worlds could intersect.
That idea has become mainstream. Walk through almost any major city today and Arc’teryx jackets are as common on commuter trains as they are on mountainsides. The anniversary collection is a reminder of how the relationship started: a shared fascination with craftsmanship, design and the possibility that mountain gear could tell a bigger story.
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