It’s no secret that the love affair between fashion and the outdoor world has flourished in the last few years. From collaborations between Gucci and The North Face, Jil Sander and Arc’teryx, and On and Loewe, through to Prada GORE-TEX anoraks and Dior ski collections, outerwear’s influence on fashion and culture continues to grow. In parallel, as fashion’s fixation on functional gear intensifies, outdoor brands are expanding their sights and recognizing the potential of garments that perform and project a certain aesthetic.

As a new landscape emerges, Highsnobiety and ISPO, the leading sports and outdoor trade fair, join forces to launch 520M, a platform exploring the intersection of performance, fashion, and culture. Taking its name from the highest altitude in Munich, where ISPO takes place every November, 520M dives deep into the outdoor lifestyle world through products, events, talks, talents, and more.

“We look forward to merging our global lens with ISPO’s expertise to provide a platform that sits at the apex of culture and outdoor lifestyle," says David Fischer, Highsnobiety’s founder and CEO. For 52 years, ISPO has been a front-runner in the outdoor and sports performance worlds, and its annual trade fair attracts exhibitors and visitors from all over the world. Leveraging ISPO's expertise in performance and Highsnobiety’s in fashion and culture, 520M will explore the new territory chartered as these worlds merge further by digging into the brands, products, and people shaping it.

520M kicks off this week at ISPO Munich with a three-day program of talks from brands such as Oakley, faction, and Beinghunted, and panel discussion with those inspiring change in the outdoors including Tsellot Melesse, the founder of Berlin hike club BLACK CANARY 030 and Ollie Olanipekun of UK-based bird watching collective Flock Together. The launch also encompasses an installation in the center of Munich where passersby can scan a QR code to bring to life a virtual avatar in their surroundings. Not just your average avatars, the two featured in the experience are true-to-life copies of outdoor fashion enthusiasts Ida Broen and Dani aka @wideawakearthquake.

Stay tuned to Highsnobiety for more from ISPO and 520M.