The Shape changing God of Mischief in Scandinavian mythology, Loki is known for playing tricks on animals, humans and gods alike. As the trickster, Loki changes his own appearance to suit his needs.
Today, Loki is changing outdoor gear!
Loki makes the first outerwear with a built in Face Shield & Mitts. These convenient features are unnoticeable when not deployed, but are at the ready when your all weather lifestyle gets socked in.
Loki gear fuses “low key”, casual design with state of the art performance to update and extend the traditional outdoor experience. When you step outside with Loki, you are fully prepared to have more fun that ever before!
The Loki Story
- 1991: It all started with a "what if we tried this…" night of brainstorming with my brother Dirk Anderson. We loved the idea of making versatile outerwear and gear, and designing each item to perform more than a single function: less stuff to carry and a safer outdoor experience. First we have to come up with a name. From his favorite comic book series “Thor”, Dirk comes up with Loki, the Nordic shape-changing god of mischief. I run with the idea and begin sewing and selling fleece neck gaiter/hats, with hand painted plastic tags with a mountain and “Loki” beneath…the dreaming, sewing, and networking has continued ever since!
Word on Design: The first design goal was to create a hat which can be pulled down for full face protection, AND can be used as a neck gaiter. It took me at least four years and many not quite right prototypes to arrive at the patented hat now referred to as the Loki Hat.
- 1994: Loki name is registered in Colorado for hats and clothing
- 1994: Sell early versions to outdoor shops in Grand Junction, Telluride, and Aspen, Colorado
- 1996: Meet Jess Rigg while working at Gladstone’s Restaurant in Grand Junction, Colorado…upon seeing the Loki hat in motion, Jess Parlays his $1000 life savings into a shot at business.
- 1996: We apply for a patent on the new Loki hat…soon find local sewers (former production managers at Marmot Mountain Works)…hit the road with professionally made samples in a plastic bag and we are officially in business
- 1998: Loki Hat design is awarded a US utility patent
- 1999: Sell Loki products in Japan, the first of many international markets
- 2000: Back to the drawing board…after nearly losing a glove on a winter climb of 14,298’ Mt Princeton, Dirk and I began scheming designs to make clothing safer and even more versatile, settling on a simple yet effective mitt that is now patented and on our new jacket.
Word on the Mitt: The new design allows the wearer to have full function mitts always at the ready, conveniently and inconspicuously stowed on the underside of the cuff when not needed.
Then came the “Switch Hood”: Originally named for half a neck gaiter sewn in at the midpoints of the hood to allow for full or partial face covering, an unnoticeable bit of fabric behind the head when not needed. With the assistance of Custom Needle Crafters we rework and flush out the design.
- 2002: New garment designs introduced
- 2002: Loki introduces new round logo
- 2003: Loki applies for a US patent on the Loki Jacket Design
- 2004: Outdoor Retailer Show…the Myth Soft Shell is listed “Best Pick of the Show” by the OR Daily Magazine
- 2005: Loki products are introduced in Scandinavia & Europe
- 2006: Climbing Magazine selects the Lodur Highloft jacket one of the top 4 belay jackets on the market
- 2006: Loki Mitt design is awarded a US utility patent
- 2006: Loki Mitt and Face Shield design are awarded patents in Europe
- 2007: Loki Face Shield design is awarded a US utility patent
- Today: We are nonstop busy taking calls and following up on all the opportunities that arise daily!
It has already been an incredible run and we are definitely not finished!
© 2007 LOKI