1935
This company was the forerunner of Descente Ltd.
This company was the forerunner of Descente Ltd.
1954
The beginning of skiwear development
Kazuyoshi Nishimura, Japan’s first professional skier and a highly creative person who held strong views about skiwear, was invited to become an advisor to the company. Thus was begun a period of development based on trial and error of his ideas, and Descente became firmly established in the skiwear business. Kazuyoshi Nishimura’s uncompromising standards of perfection were largely responsible for Descente’s unwavering commitment to making only the best quality products.
1957
Announcement of the RWSB Jacket
This was the name given to an all-new “portable” windbreaker utilizing the RWSB*2 characteristics. Made of nylon, and able to be folded away into a self-contained pouch, this was a truly revolutionary garment for its time. It can properly be called Descente’s first totally self-developed product. *2 RWSB: An acronym formed from the first letter of the words Rain, Wind, Snow and Block. Pronounced “rausbee”.
1961
The Descente trademark was registered, formally marking the birth of today’s Descente Ltd.
The Descente signature arrow logo – known as the “Spirit Mark” – represents the basic skiing techniques of “schuss”, “traverse” and “sideslip”. It symbolizes the bold spirit of Descente – always faithful to its grassroots manufacturing integrity, and constant quest for perfection and contemporary appeal. The form of the current Spirit Mark logo was adopted in 1968.
1970
The beginning of collaboration with two Hannes Keller and Hans Hess.
As a result of this joint undertaking, Descente developed state of the art technology, incorporating extensive wind tunnel testing, to minimise surface wrinkling and unevenness – the main cause of wind resistance - and succeeded in developing the world’s first three-dimensionally cut downhill racing suit. This marked the beginning of the era of competition where victory margins are measured in 1/100ths of a second.
1974
Announcement of the “Demopants” ski pants style.
“Demopants” is a short form of “demonstrator pants”. These were a hugely successful product – they not only covered and kept snow out of skiboot-tops, but also flattered the Japanese physique by appearing to elongate the leg silhouette. Their popularity was enhanced by their overall warmth and freedom of movement, and the Demopants became synonymous with ski pants.
1979
Announcement of the “Magic Suit
The Magic Suit brought together with startling effect all of the earlier Descente developments in reducing wind resistance and maximizing freedom of movement and maneuverability through three dimensional design, strategic adjustment of fasteners and the like.The performance-enhancing qualities of the Magic Suit were recognized by leading ski racers around the world and so powerful was its “magic” that many said they couldn’t win without it.
1980
United States speed skater Eric Heiden achieved spectacular success wearing a Descente suit.
Eric Heiden wins a record 5 Gold Medals at the Lake Placid Winter Olympics wearing his famous Descente gold racing suit developed from the successful one piece Alpine downhill suit.
1988
Announcement of the heat retaining Solar α jacket
Descente turned next to the development, in collaboration with Unitika Ltd., of a jacket using a new, highly efficient heat retaining material which became known as solar α, a “dream fabric” which absorbed solar rays and converted them into heat. Solar α turned all existing solutions for heat retention upside down. Keeping conventional garments warm relied on passive heat retention, preventing warmth generated inside the garment from escaping i.e. the more radiant heat that could be prevented from reaching the outside, the warmer the wearer stayed. In contrast, like a solar power system, Solar α generated heat in a positive way, actually converting light energy from the sun into heat, and moreover, storing that heat within its fibers.
1998
Descente introduced the “Mobile Thermo” jacket
Working in close collaboration with leading electronics manufacturer Panasonic, the company created the “mobile thermo” coat, the world’s first clothing utilizing a catalytic heating system. It was hailed as mankind’s first experience with cold weather wear incorporating its own heating system. In order to gain acceptance, the coat had to be safe, lightweight and easy to wear. All of the company’s vast array of technical skills were brought to bear to ensure that all these points were met, and the “Mobile Thermo” coat came into being.
2002
Power of Design
An adventurous collaboration between Descente and the Academy Award winning costume designer Eiko Ishioka, which saw Descente move to add a new dimension of artistic excitement to its cutting-edge sports science-based products. In what became known as the “athlete’s genome”, Ms Ishioka sought to impose a psychological dimension on to athletic performance – to heighten the sense of individual power for the wearer, and perhaps even to create some doubt in the minds of opponents.
2008
Release of the revolutionary Mizusawa Down range.
In place of the traditional stitched, quilted down construction, the technicians at Descente’s Mizusawa factory came up with an entirely new thermal bonding process to produce this revolutionary line of jackets. This new process prevented down from escaping through sewn seams, and for the first time made possible a genuinely waterproof down jacket.
2010
Descente developed the E-liner under-suit for ski and speedskating use.
The E-liner is a one piece suit worn under competition clothing. It is designed to provide compression support for specific muscle groups in order to maximize the benefit of energy expenditure, reduce fatigue and maintain correct body posture. It was worn by several members of the Swiss alpine ski team and the Canadian speedskating and Ski Cross team at the Vancouver Winter Olympics.
2011
Descente anounces ALLTERRAIN,technology intensive capsule collection.
This concept saw Descente, always best known for its dedicated pursuit of specific, high tech, cutting-edge sporting wear, move into a new and different field – designing a range of “function before form” clothing that allow the wearer to decide how and when they should be worn.
2011
Introduction of "Tough-Polo"
Made of polyester, but with the natural feel of cotton, the tough polos retain their shape in the wash, resist fading, are stretchy, highly absorbent yet quick drying, and incorporate a high UP50+ ultra-ray blocking rating.
2012
Genome- high performance compression wear
Genome athletic tights are the result of a long and detailed study by Descente into long distance running. The functional elements are the strategically placed spiral power bands, reminiscent of the DNA helix, which act to help maintain body form and reduce the loss of leg “kick” power caused by fatigue.
2013
An ISPO Gold Medal for Descente’s ALLTERRAIN Transform Jacket
At ISPO, the world's largest sporting goods trade show, held every year in Munich, Descente's Teransform Jacket was awareded the gold medal in the Performance segement of the Lifestyle and Fashion categpry. This extremely prestigious award is based ib rigorous examination by a judging panel of 60 specialists from 13 countries on three continents, and goes to the garment deemed bast in concept, design and technology.
2015
Announcement of new pattern concept, S.I.O.
S.I.O. is a brand new Descente "Minimum Pattern" process which combines front, back and sleeve patterns into one, significantly reducing the number of sewn seams and consequently improvingwind and waterproofing. It is strong, simple, minimalist design at its very best, with function over form dominating the long, painstaking process of development, and producing the specifications that deliver highest performance.
2016
More awards for Descente ALLTERRAIN
Since Descente's revolutionary Mizusawa Down Jacket made it on to the world stage in 2008, recognition for our ALLTERRAIN product line has continued to flow at ISPO. Once awagin two products that showcase Descente's unique 3D, seamless pattern cutting technology - the SIO seamless shirt and Mizusawa Down Pants- won cov awards.
2018
ISPO Awards WINTER
"2018 was a very successful year for Descente Ski at the major ISPO international sports business fair in Munich. After an absence from the “podium” for three years, Descente ski products were back with a vengeance, securing not one, but two prestigious Awards. One was the S.I.O x Schematech Inner Surface Shell Jacket, featuring the exciting new technology that allows multiple texture and function changes in one garment without having the switch fabrics, which, with S.I.O pattern cutting, ushers in a new era of lightweight, seamless comfort in ski wear. The second was for the ultra-windproof, slim S.I.O ski gloves, with their revolutionary use of a thin insulation material never before used in ski wear."
2018
Fusionknit launced
Fusionknit is an un precedented knit product combining various technologies and know-how to offer ultimate sportwear comfort and freedom of movement. It ushered in a new innovative sportwear line combining stretch and soft skin touch with knit-and-sew manufacturing and supersonic welding for the main parts.
2018
Two "DISC" R&D bases established.
Descente's two sportswear and shoes research and develop centers, DISC, opened in 2018.DISC's ongoing activities are based on the two challenging concepts of"Creating the World's Fastest Sportswear" and "Innovated for Your Best"
2018
g-arc launched
A new top-of-the-line category in the Descente golf collection. The name is a combination of the Descente golf logo"g"and the arc shape of a golf swing. The sophisticated models incorporate golf-specific functions with full use of cutting-edge technology.
"SCHMATECH SKY" launced.
Schematech Sky was introduced as a future evolution of the original Schematech announced in 2018,updating conventional woven fablic to knit.