Highlighting the latest advances in outdoor goods and apparel, Patrick Brown-Hayes, instructor at Washington State University’s Department of Apparel, Merchandising, Design and Textiles, has been selected as a judge for the second annual Outdoor Retailer Innovation Awards, Jan. 29-30, 2020, in Denver, Colo.
Part of Outdoor Retailer’s Outdoor + Snow Show, the Innovation Awards recognize cutting-edge achievements in outdoor products, materials and retail services, including apparel and accessories, electronics, camping and climbing gear, and much more. Brown-Hayes is part of a 19-member panel evaluating submissions based on design, function, impact, and spark.
At AMDT, Brown-Hayes teaches courses in visual merchandising, omni-channel retailing, Adobe, 3-D design, product development, fashion photography and advertising, illustration and rendering, portfolio design, aesthetics and fashion styling. He also works in creative, design, leadership, and strategic roles in the private and public sector.
An active fly fisherman, runner, backpacker, back country skier, snowboarder, kayaker, mountain biker, and wakeboarder, he can often be found spending time outdoors with his wife and three daughters. His love for the outdoors, photography, culture, and travel has allowed him to visit and work around the United States and Europe.
Brown-Hayes judged more than 170 entries this fall in the run-up to the competition. New product and marketplace entries are challenging to judge, he said, adding that his diverse background gave him an advantage in weighing the merits of the many different categories.
“It was great to see what will be entering the marketplace next year, and where technology, product development and the retail service industry is heading,” said Brown-Hayes. “It was also refreshing to see who and what is entering the retail and outdoor sector.
“Being a judge has given me a deeper understanding of how companies are currently trying to join the marketplace, and what trends are going to be mainstream in 2020 and 2021. Attending open-market shows is an incredibly valuable asset that allows me to stay updated on industry standards, establish new relationships, and encounter new content for my courses.”
Two AMDT students, Bridgette Bacon and Tara Kelly, have been selected to attend the show along with Brown-Hayes. He has been hired by Cotton Inc. as a private consultant to provide market research during the show.
Innovation Award winners will be announced during a live ceremony on the second night of the show. Learn more about the event here.