Finding a location as inspiration is where the process begins when working with Columbia. The hospitality trips we create for our friends and family are meant to let people experience the product in the setting it was designed for. This season, the Sonoran Desert became the backdrop.

The Sonoran spans for approximately 100,000 square miles, covering parts of Arizona and California, as well as the northwestern Mexican states of Sonora, Baja California and Baja California Sur. It is North America’s hottest desert, reaching a high of 122 degrees Fahrenheit - but due to its bi-seasonal rainfall pattern it also has more plant species than any other desert in the world. This balance of beauty and extremity had a major influence on the design of the collection.

Unlike the vast majority of deserts, the Sonoran is filled with colorful flowers ranging from shades of pink, purple, yellow, and red. It’s also home to the only jaguar population in the United States, and the only place where you can find the saguaro cactus which can grow up to 40 feet tall.

I’m thankful that I was able to experience the beauty of this place with my closest friends, and that I was able to share this inspiration with them. As next week approaches, I look forward to sharing the fruits of our work with Columbia with you.