Arc’teryx and BEAMS Just Revived the Jacket That Started Their 25-Year Partnership

Back in the late 1990s, BEAMS buyer Kei Hirosawa clocked something the rest of the fashion world hadn’t quite caught onto yet. He believed that a high-end climbing outfit from Canada’s Coast Mountains could speak to Harajuku’s streetwear scene just as fluently as it spoke to alpinists. The first collaborative capsule landed in 2001, and the two brands haven’t stopped trading ideas since. And fans can’t get enough of it.

Now, to celebrate 25 years together (and BEAMS’ 50th birthday, no less), the pair has unveiled the six-piece Arc’teryx x BEAMS Anniversary Collection, headlined by a revival of the 1998 Theta AR Jacket.

Arc’teryx isn’t exactly a brand known for nostalgia as they live and die on forward-thinking and cutting edge engineering. And that’s what makes the Theta AR’s return such a big deal, especially considering the longer-cut hardshell anchored that original 2001 capsule alongside the Arro backpack.

And, unsurprisingly, BEAMS didn’t phone in the revival either, going all the way back to the earliest generation for reference. The center storm flap, covered pocket zips, chunky old-school pull tabs, and harness-compatible pockets all carry over, while the interior got a nice upgrade to modern GORE-TEX PRO ePE.

As for the look, the “Kōyō” colorway (Japanese for autumn leaves) wraps the shell in Arc’teryx brown, yellow, and BEAMS orange, finished with gold embroidery and a BEAMS 50th anniversary logo tucked inside.

The remaining five pieces form the partnership’s first complete bouldering kit, and the details are what separate this from your average anniversary cash grab. The Gamma Jacket arrives in a shade officially christened “BEAMS Orange,” the first time the BEAMS name has ever been etched into Arc’teryx’s color catalog. Hell, even the new Jogen Pants are named after a boulder problem at Ogawayama, one of Japan’s most hallowed climbing areas.

Rounding out the lineup is a Konseal 15 backpack built from Arc’teryx’s ridiculously abrasion-resistant 315-denier Hadron fabric, a recycled Gamma 5-panel cap, and a heavyweight Kragg long sleeve with six past anniversary products printed across the back like a wearable museum exhibit.

The Arc’teryx x BEAMS Anniversary Collection launches September 25th, but stateside buyers will have to show up in person, as the collection is only available in-store at 15 select US Arc’teryx locations. US pricing hasn’t been confirmed yet, though the Theta AR runs ¥187,000 (~$1,190) in Japan, with the rest of the collection spanning ¥13,200 (~$85) to ¥52,800 (~$335). The brands are also hosting “NOW / THEN” pop-up museum exhibitions in NYC and Tokyo to mark the occasion.

Arc’teryx x BEAMS Anniversary Collection

Arc’teryx and BEAMS celebrate 25 years of collaboration with a six-piece “Kōyō” capsule headlined by a faithful GORE-TEX PRO ePE revival of the 1998 Theta AR Jacket.