NW Alpine might not be a huge name like LL Bean or Canada Goose, but it’s a more serious player in the outdoor space. The company was created to meet a need, which it explains on its website.
“Unplanned bivvies in ice caves, a three day climb stretching into seven, and “don’t fall” belays. Experiences like these in the mountains are the hard lessons that shape our values, and that inspired this company. NW Alpine was founded in 2010 in response to the demand for high quality alpine climbing apparel made in the U.S. Since then, we’ve remained dedicated to the alpine climbing community and their special needs,” the company shared.
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That’s a niche, but it’s also a niche that has been underserved. You can’t walk into a Dick’s Sporting Goods and buy alpine climbing apparel. The company designed its gear to meet the needs of the specialized community it serves.
Since 2010, we’ve designed our apparel to be trusted in the burliest of environments. Drawing from a talented pool of Oregon-based makers, we dream up a layer one day and send out prototypes the next day. Our apparel is directly influenced by input from world-class athletes who put it through the wringer and let us know its breaking points.
That kept the company going for roughly 25 years, but the end is near for NW Alpine.
Image source: NW Alpine.
NW Alpine is going out of business
Since its inception, NW Alpine has been committed to manufacturing in the United States. The company has a simple philosophy.
Our commitment to the revitalization of American manufacturing is as critical a component to our products as the materials we use to make them.By choosing to make our apparel in the USA, we are investing in both the climbing community and the community we live in.
Everything we use has to be made somewhere, by someone. So why not here?
Owner Bill Amos Used his Instagram page to share that NW Alpine would be closing.
“While NW Alpine revenues have been growing significantly YoY and we’ve been marginally profitable in 2025, ultimately our cash situation has put us into an untenable position. Running out of cash is perhaps the most classic way to go out of business,” he said.
Amos noted that economic conditions have not helped.
“Combine those struggles with deteriorating consumer confidence and a largely listless outdoor industry, we’ve decided that it no longer makes sense to continue operating,” he added.
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The founder wanted to make it clear that he does not believe that the decision to manufacture in the U.S. led to the company’s demise.
“This shouldn’t be taken as a sign that US manufacturing isn’t a viable path forward for outdoor apparel brands, simply that the sum of NWA’s parts ultimately weren’t viable. There are so many factors that go into the success of any business,” he shared.
Amos also listed other companies in the alpine climbing space that will carry the made in the USA banner.
American-made climbing gear companies:
- Youer
- Wuru Wool
- Burgeon Outdoors
- Alpine Fit
What’s next for NW Alpine?
The company will be liquidating all of its inventory. Its website is already promoting a “Last Chance Sale.” without specifically mentioning that the company is closing.
No new terms or return policy changes have been posted yet.
Amos urged regular customers to stock up.
“We’re liquidating all of our inventory. I know we have a lot of customers for whom certain NWA pieces are a staple of their kit so, if that’s you, pick up a lifetime supply while they’re still available,” he shared.
He then laid out the plan for the liquidation sale.
“Our plan is to start liquidation at full price, then ratchet up the discounts until everything is gone over the next couple of weeks,” he shared.
NW Alpine also has “a fairly substantial amount of various fabrics in inventory that will need a home,” Amos noted. “So if there’s any interest there please send me a DM.”
Is American manufacturing viable?
While President Donald Trump has been working to bring more manufacturing back to U.S. shores, there may be limits to how much of that can happen.
“We don’t have the labor, skill set, materials, and infrastructure” to manufacture clothing and shoes on a large scale,” Steve Lamar, president of the American Apparel and Footwear Association told US.FashionNetwork.com.
Small batch manufacturing in the US, which matches what NW Alpine was doing, might make more sense.
“U.S. apparel manufacturers today are primarily micro-factories, and they supplement but are not in a position to replace imports,” according to a report from the U.S. Fashion Industry Association.
It does not appear likely that this will change any time soon.
“Instead of making garments in large volumes, most U.S.-based apparel factories are used to produce samples or prototypes for brands and retailers. In other words, replacing global sourcing with domestic production is not a realistic option for U.S. fashion brands and retailers in the 21st-century global economy,” the study shared.
The other question, of course, is whether Americans actually want goods made in the USA.
“While, in surveys, a large number of people say they prefer goods to be made in the USA, far fewer follow through on that aspiration when it comes to their purchasing habits. The truth is most people don’t even bother to look at the country of origin – they’re more concerned with price, quality, functionality and all manner of other attributes,” GlobalData Managing Director Neil Saunders shared on Retailwire.
He does not think the distinction helps all that much.
“If all those things are right, having a USA made product can be a nice little bonus, but it’s rarely the first consideration for most,” he added.
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