Former Tom’s of Maine CEO, Tom Chappell, is bringing his spirit of family and entrepreneurial and proven business expertise to the outdoor category with the debut of Ramblers Way Farm (www.ramblersway.com) at Outdoor Retailer Winter Market. Ramblers Way Farm is a line of lightweight, luxuriously soft next-to-skin lifestyle apparel made 100 percent in America. Available for men and women, it combines the soft, long, fine wool fibers from America’s Rambouillet sheep with innovative spinning and knitting technologies, says the company, creating classic silhouettes with minimal itching that absorbs odors for days and has the look of a tailored garment.
“My wife and I founded Tom’s of Maine in 1970 as one of the first makers of natural personal care products,” said Tom Chappell, CEO of Ramblers Way Farm. “After building Tom’s into a leading eco-friendly company, we learned how a business can be a positive force for consumers, workers, communities and the planet. We started Ramblers Way Farm with a desire to re-imagine wool as a next-to-skin, superfine fabric, to warm and comfort people of all ages and walks of life. Just as importantly, we created a company and products that exemplify the values that we hold dear. We are bringing these same practices to the outdoor industry, a like community that already shares our values.”
“By utilizing the wool from ranches in Montana and Nevada and by farming and producing superfine wool in America, rather than importing Merino wool from overseas, it lowers the carbon footprint and impact on the environment,” Chappell continued. “Textile companies in the Carolinas make the fine yarns and lightweight knit wear that becomes the next-to-skin worsted wool clothing and a multi-generation garment maker in Allentown, Pa., lends its years of expertise to quality sewing. The wool is washed, spun, knitted, dyed and finished using environmentally sustainable practices, and in addition, is chemical-free.”
Ramblers Way Farm’s next-to-skin collection for men and women features 30 styles for women and 20 styles for men with price points ranging from $75 to $99 for next-to-skin and $125 to $250 for loungewear and shirts. Ramblers Way Farm is presently in more than 350 independent retailers in the United States, including Adventure Apparel, Concord Outfitters and Woodstock Sports.
“Ramblers Way Farm is a complete departure from wool apparel options on the market now,” said Peter Johnston, owner of Woodstock Sports, Woodstock, Vt. “We love the fact that this collection has classic lines that will never go out of style, is made in America, creates jobs in the U.S. and keeps the environment top of mind.”
The company’s facilities in Kennebunk, Maine, use green energy including geothermal heating systems and solar energy. Current practices include consumer paper recycled boxes for product packaging, soy based printing inks and recycled content for stationary. Digital and electronic technologies are used without paper to communicate among staff. Selecting bases of operations in strategic locations for their regional accountabilities minimizes travel for sales representatives.
