Cordova Launches Menswear Ski Line with Japan Retail Push

Cordova launched its debut menswear collection on its tenth anniversary. The release expands the luxury skiwear label into men’s alpine apparel across wholesale partners in Japan, Europe and North America.

The 21-piece range features nine silhouettes. Prices span from $160 for accessories to $1,980 for full one-piece ski suits.

Wholesale rollout and Japan distribution

Jane and Cody Seim founded the business in 2016 as a women’s luxury ski brand. It built sales on tailored one-piece suits through platforms including Net-a-porter, Mytheresa and Moda Operandi. The men’s line is the label’s first category expansion beyond womenswear.

Physical distribution focuses on specialty boutiques in ski markets including Japan, Aspen, Courcelles and the French Alps. Online sales run exclusively through Browns Farfetch and Forward in the United States ahead of wholesale presentations at the Paris market in January.

Technical fabrics and pricing tiers

The collection spans technical ski jackets, trousers, puffers and knitwear. Premium pieces include a waterproof Italian wool ski jacket priced at $1,350 and matching pants for $900. Outerwear puffers retail between $1,000 and $1,400, depending on fabric specifications sourced from European and Japanese textile mills.

There are unexpected materials in prints and colorways that create an emotional connection and some excitement for men. We felt there was a need in the market and this is the right time to meet that.

Differentiation in luxury performance outerwear

Cordova enters a luxury ski segment contested by established European performance houses and fashion conglomerates expanding into winter sports capsules. Moncler, Bogner and Fusalp command significant market share across Asian ski destinations. That presence is strong in northern Japan and mainland China, where winter sports tourism has expanded.

Tailored silhouettes and retro alpine references from 1960s and 1970s ski culture position the offering away from purely technical shells. For independent luxury labels, the primary challenge is scaling production. They must also secure wholesale floor space against legacy outerwear giants with dedicated mono-brand retail networks.

Next steps at Paris market

Initial production began a decade ago with 120 women’s ski suits before securing department store placement with Selfridges and Matches. Output has since expanded globally across premium specialty retailers.

Wholesale buyers will review the full menswear line during Paris market showroom sessions in January. Those appointments will determine the brand’s door count for the subsequent winter delivery cycle.