SPECS:
- FREE "Leave Only Footprints" Sticker included
-
Fabric: Mid weight, 5.3 oz, 100% combed Organic Cotton
-
Neck ribbing with twin needle stitch, ribbed cuff, side seamed, shoulder to shoulder tape, preshrunk to minimize shrinkage
-
2 other style variations are available. Stonewashed Cotton & with Pocket
-
Regular Fit See Size Chart in Photos
- Each print has been handmade one at a time using a rudimentary silkscreen just like the wooden one used to make the original shirts in 1972. See photo of the original screen.
THE STORY:
When Mic Mead came on board A16 as Andy Drollinger's partner in 1970, with the exception of a few accessories like durable water bottles, we only sold Custom A16 Backpacks, Sleeping Bags and a very new type of tent that had a unique dome shape. By 1972 A16 began offering some clothing including wool shirts and pants from Woolrich Mills and a couple of T-Shirts made by a 16-year-old entrepreneur in Southern Idaho. That young lad was Mic's nephew, me. John D. A year earlier Mic had the idea of creating a universal symbol that would identify responsible backpackers. As a self-taught artist, he began drawing up the design 1st borrowing the molded sole pattern of an Italian company that was supplying better hiking boot makers with a superior rubber sole. Their name was and still is Vibram. Next, he wrapped the sole design with his personal Wilderness Ethic that was inspired by his outdoor experiences and conservation values. "Take Only Memories - Leave Only Footprints" The last step in Mic's drawing was a rope border. At the time nylon Goldline was the "Gold" standard for serious mountaineers and rock climbers, although the standard was quickly being replaced with the kernmantle dynamic rope which is still used today.
The Wilderness Ethic design was never universally used by the outdoor community, but it became the company's bi-line and motto for the next 50 years. The ethic suggested that A16 was more than just a manufacturer of high end and innovative backpacking equipment, but also a company that was dedicated at it's core to preserving and protecting our wilderness for more than just enjoyment. The artwork of the emblem morphed over the years, but the boot print & statement remained the same. The artwork used on this product was recreated using the image printed by the original 1972 T-Shirt silkscreen shown in the photo section. The screen currently hangs on a wall in the A16 office in San Diego.