Rise with Peaks, Flow with Snow —— ARC’TERYX 2025 FW Window Design
In November 2025, following the nationwide presentation of the fifth-season window displays designed for Arc’teryx across more than one hundred stores in major cities, PILLS was once again invited to develop the seventh and eighth seasonal window installations, on view through early February. This season’s concept is inspired by ski mountaineering, focusing on the athlete’s transition between ascent and descent. Through a visual narrative defined by form shaped by motion, the windows explore the subtle relationship between human movement and the natural environment—between stillness and momentum.
- New Rush Jacket: All-Around Protection in Extreme Conditions Ski mountaineering—also known as Backcountry (BC) or Ski Mountaineering (SKIMO)—is not simply “skiing uphill.” It is an extreme discipline that integrates high-altitude climbing, complex terrain traversal, and wilderness skiing into a single continuous expedition. Without mechanical assistance, athletes rely solely on physical strength and skill to move from the mountain base to the summit, and then descend in a complete exploratory cycle. It is both a physical challenge and a spiritual practice, expressing a direct and elemental dialogue between humans and nature through endurance, willpower, and judgment. Within this context, the Rush Jacket embodies a functional philosophy of unfixed form. Its lightweight construction enhances efficiency during ascents, conforming to the body without restricting movement. During descent, its abrasion resistance and protective performance confront wind, snow, and rugged terrain, achieving true versatility—one garment adaptable to multiple conditions. This season’s Rush Jacket not only reflects a pursuit of technical performance, but also articulates a respect for nature: clothing should not constrain the wearer, but extend the human capacity to explore the natural world.
- Rise with Peaks, Flow with Snow “Advance” is contained in the forward-leaning moment of gathering strength— the determination to climb and reach higher ground. “Move” unfolds within the invisible flow of snow— a state of alignment with the mountain’s contours, passing through forests and across snowfields. The window design draws from the shifting postures inherent to climbing and skiing. PILLS translates the dynamic curves of descent into winding mountain lines, juxtaposed with the silhouettes of skiers moving through towering snow-covered peaks. Together, these elements immerse viewers in the spatial conditions and movement trajectories of ski mountaineering. Layered, rugged mountain formations define the overall backdrop. Rock textures are rendered through 3D-printed molds, while a restrained palette of grey and white evokes the atmosphere of deep alpine terrain—expressing both the severity of nature and the boundless imagination of a snow-covered landscape. Solid white rock forms appear to grow gradually from the background, simultaneously recalling snow-laden mountain ranges and the tracks carved by skiers. Under overhead lighting, the undulating terrain freezes moments of ski mountaineering in time. Even in stillness, the viewer can sense the momentum of cutting through wind and the fluid transitions between postures, conveying the sport’s inherent tension and dynamism. By connecting the trajectories of ascent and descent, the installation forms a continuous, fluid curve that emphasizes the Rush Jacket’s core attribute this season: one garment, multiple applications. As the lightest hardshell in the WHITELINE series, its balance of lightweight comfort and durable protection supports athletes in confronting the risks and challenges of alpine environments. In the in-store key display (DP) areas, silhouettes derived from characteristic ski mountaineering postures are assembled into an organic whole, anchored by rock forms emerging from the ground. From certain viewpoints, the installation reads as a mountain in formation; from others, it reveals the residual trace of a skier accelerating downhill. Each posture transitions seamlessly into the next, clearly articulating the movement path of descent. Striped elements reference wind erosion and layered snow textures, translating natural phenomena into a structural design language. Their repetition and variation suggest the decomposition and recomposition of movement in ski mountaineering—each complete action composed of countless subtle gestures. Lighting further transforms perception: under primary overhead light, the stripes provide strong directional cues; within ambient light, they dissolve into a unified and subdued whole. Here, form shaped by motion is realized in three dimensions. The installation exists between movement and stillness: a static sculpture charged with momentum through flowing lines; a fleeting moment of motion permanently suspended. This condition reflects the essence of ski mountaineering itself—between ascent and descent lie countless transitions, each redefining form in real time.
- Conclusion Arc’teryx’s seventh-season window installation is not merely a seasonal product presentation, but a spatial reflection on outdoor philosophy, the human–nature relationship, and the aesthetics of performance-driven design. Through the central concept of form shaped by motion, the experiential qualities of ski mountaineering are translated into an immersive environment accessible to a broader audience. Within this space, we encounter both the climber’s resistance against gravity and the skier’s wisdom in moving with natural forces. As a garment that seamlessly supports two extreme disciplines, the Rush Jacket transcends its role as equipment, becoming a medium that connects human and mountain, motion and stillness, function and aesthetics. Through this collaboration, Arc’teryx and PILLS articulate a shared belief: advanced technology ultimately exists to enable people to engage with nature freely and completely—finding their own rhythm between movement and rest.
Project Information
Project Name: ARC'TERYX 2025FW 7P Window & DP Design Client: ARC’TERYX Design Date: November 2025 Design Firm: PILLS Design Lead: Zigeng Wang Design Team: Chenyao Liu, Manying, Shilin Liu Planning Team: Xingzhu Jiang Photography: Wu Siming, UK Studio Editors: Linna Yuan, An Shi
