Seattle has never been a fashion capital in the glossy-magazine sense. But the city has always dressed for adventure. Filson built its reputation during the Klondike Gold Rush, REI grew from a neighborhood co-op, and local designers are pushing sustainability in ways that are distinctly Northwest.

This is what sets the stage for Seattle’s first Outdoor Fashion Week, running Oct. 7-12 in Pioneer Square. Centered at Populus Seattle and RailSpur, the week brings together heritage brands, innovative designers, and the outdoor community for conversations, pop-ups, performances, and workshops.

“Seattle is uniquely positioned as a hub for outdoor exploration,” says Juriana Spierenburg, organizer of Seattle Outdoor Fashion Week and hotel manager of Populus Seattle. “We have the Puget Sound at our doorstep, the Cascade and Olympic mountain ranges within an hour’s drive, and temperate rainforests like the Hoh Rain Forest that are unlike anything else in the continental United States. This diverse landscape means Seattleites need versatile, weather-adaptive clothing that can transition from urban environments to hiking trails, from misty mornings to sunny afternoons, often within the same day.”

Seattle Outdoor Fashion Week promotional artwork.

Image courtesy of Seattle Fashion Week

The week’s programming reflects that balance of history and experimentation. Highlights include a panel and silent film screening that nods to Seattle’s Gold Rush past, a circular fashion showcase from Kim McCormick and Barbie Bond, and a participatory night with Crowd Source Choir. The centerpiece is “A Tribute to Filson,” celebrating the 128-year-old brand with panel talks, live demos, and DJ sets. Notable partners and participants include Westland Distillery, Lowlander Brewery (set to open later this year at RailSpur from Sea Creatures), Best Day Brewing, and Forest for the Trees.

Organizers hope the festival will build cultural and economic traction during what’s traditionally a slow month for the city, the kind of draw fashion weeks generate in New York, Paris, and Milan.

Spierenburg points out that Pioneer Square’s cobblestone streets and historic architecture evoke neighborhoods like SoHo in New York City, one of the world’s major fashion destinations. “We want to honor that legacy while creating something distinctly Seattle—building on our authentic roots in functional, adventure-ready design,” she says.

Proceeds from the week will support Treehouse’s “Raincoats for Kids” program, which provides foster youth with outdoor gear and opportunities to connect with nature. “Exploring the outdoors as a child has always been a huge privilege for me—getting your first hiking boots, your first winter ski outfit, your first rain coat,” Spierenburg says. She believes those early experiences create lasting connections to nature. “When children fall in love with the outdoors, they learn to appreciate and cherish nature for the long run. Especially with the challenges of climate change, this education is crucial.”

The week is also a chance to frame Seattle’s style more broadly. “Seattleites are incredibly functional in their approach to fashion,” Spierenburg says. “Here, style has always been about form meeting function—clothing that performs as well as it looks. This pragmatic aesthetic has given rise to some of the best outdoor and lifestyle brands in the world. Seattle deserves recognition as a fashion capital in its own right, particularly in the outdoor fashion space.”

Ticket options vary by event; find more details and purchase here.