Mammut + Nigel Cabourn: A designer homage to mountaineering heritage
Seon, Switzerland / Newcastle, United Kingdom – Mammut, the Swiss mountaineering brand with over 160 years of alpine heritage, proudly announces a unique collaboration with renowned British designer and heritage fashion expert Nigel Cabourn. The Mammut x Nigel Cabourn capsule collection is an emotional homage to the history of alpinism. In particular, it celebrates the groundbreaking 1969 Japanese Direttissima ascent of the Eiger North Face, co-initiated by mountaineering pioneer Michiko Imai.
At the heart of this collaboration is the story of Michiko Imai , the first woman to make a first ascent of the infamous Eiger North Face in Switzerland—at the age of just 27. As the only female member of the six-person Japanese team, Imai not only served as expedition doctor. She also helped pioneer a new, direct route, the “Direttissima,” up one of the most challenging faces in the Alps. This was at a time when women in Europe still had to obtain permission from their husbands to work. Her courage and determination became an inspiration for generations of female mountaineers and for this collection.
“I’m delighted to hear that the collaboration between Mammut and Nigel Cabourn was inspired by the Japan Direttissima, the route we hiked in 1969,” said
Imai , who is now 83.
“I hope many people will enjoy this collection, which preserves the atmosphere of that era while using new materials. And that it inspires even more people to embrace nature and mountaineering.”
The twelve-piece unisex capsule collection is directly inspired by the clothing worn by the 1969 expedition team. It is reimagined through Nigel Cabourn’s signature perspective on vintage expedition clothing. The collection features authentic materials such as Ventile cotton , Scottish wool , and Swiss army blanket fabrics. These were selected for their durability, warmth, and timeless appeal. These heritage materials are combined with modern technologies. For instance, Pertex Quantum lining and Dry Down create garments that look classic. Yet they meet today’s most demanding requirements. The design process involved researching historical mountaineering clothing. One remarkable moment was a rare archive discovered in a Sheffield attic. The result: premium-quality garments functionally up to the challenges of the mountains. Thanks to their timeless retro-future look, they can also be worn as premium everyday clothing.
“This collaboration isn’t nostalgia—it honors the courage, innovation, and international spirit of mountaineering,” said
Nigel Cabourn . “Michiko’s story and the achievement of the entire Japanese team are a powerful reminder of what people are capable of in the mountains.”
The campaign for the collection bridges generations of alpine passion. It was shot in April 2025 with Japanese Mammut athletes Tatsuya ‘Timmy’ Aoki and Yuka Kobayashi , along with Nigel Cabourn and Michiko Imai, directly on the Eiger North Face. This collection is aimed at a global community that appreciates the rich, multicultural heritage of alpinism: whether worn on the mountain or in the city.
SENKU-SHA – A tribute to the first woman on the Japanese Direttissima on the Eiger
Senku-Sha (“Trailblazer”) is a film about Michiko’s story, told in her own words. At 83, she returned to the Eiger with Mammut to reflect on the climb that shaped her life. We listened, learned, and retraced her steps with the recreation of one of the most iconic images from the 1969 climb by Japanese athlete Yuka Kobayashi. She was wearing the new Nigel Cabourn + Mammut collection .
