The North Conway Daily Sun reports that outdoor and military clothing manufacturer Wild Things is closing their original North Conway, New Hampshire location which has been open for more than 30 years.
In addition to a small retail outlet, product development was based out of the New Hampshire location which is located near the home of co-founder Marie “Titoune” Muenier. Marie is a world class climber who, along with her ex-husband John Bouchard started Wild Things in 1981 to build the kinds of clothing and gear that they wanted to use.
Over time, military Special Operations Forces discovers their gear and eventually, the vast majority of sales transitioned from civilian to military customers. Marie sold the company in 2008 to private equity firm Consumer Growth Partners but has remained on board in product development. A role she will continue in spite of the North Conway closure.
Wild Things products are manufactured in several contract sewing factories located throughout the Eastern United States. Wild Things HQ remains in Rhode Island. Sales will continue to be web-based.
Tags: Wild Things
This is bitter sweet news. I had the opportunity to visit their North Conway store and make some purchases several times while attending a school in the area. I found out the hard way that they recently outsourced production of their LE line (the black and OD items) to Jordan. Seems like part of a deal that came out of them supplying the Jordanian military. It’s their company and they can do with it as they see fit. It’s just sad to see them lose even more of their heritage.
Is this an indication of anything untoward happening economically with the company? I know a lot of people that swear by their gear, and they’re certainly one of my favorites.
Sad day…
I have been using WT gear recreationally for better than 10 years and have had the pleasure of visiting and shopping their small showroom store in Conway. As a dyed-in-the-wool New Englander I’m sorry to see them close down this shop. Although they didn’t do production there, there was always a sewing machine or two running in the back room, the occaisional climbing guide filtering through or employee to chat about the local ice-beta, and some steals and deals on sample or over-run puffy jackets in wierd foliage green combos. It was one of the few unique shops that made you feel humbley connected to the industry; it put a face and history on the products. To an old gear-queer, hack-recreationalist adventurer- it was a gem. It’ll be missed.
As an NH resident this stinks… Every trip to Conway, I’d stop in and visit them. I’d always grab a fresh decal to replace the one on my car and truck. Great gear… a shame that it wont be a quick purchase for me onsite anymore.