As one of our longest and most central partners, Karian has shared years of ideas, experiences and challenges with Arc’teryx, becoming more a member of the family than a business partner. They have been an important source of support during our growth periods.

Karian is run by Helen Lu, who is both incredibly business savvy, and places enormous value on relationships. When a partner proves to be trustworthy, she is a stalwart. This loyalty shows in the longevity of Karian’s partnership with Arc’teryx. Over the years, Helen has chosen to be exclusive, gradually giving up her other clients to make only Arc’teryx products.

The importance Helen places on relationships also shows in her success in retaining employees. She takes great effort to make the Karian campus welcoming, having planted an orchard for employees, and invested in a spacious, locally operated kids’ camp for childcare. During the summer, nearly 90% of her employees’ children attend the camp, which features certified teachers in Chinese, English, math and art. She truly seeks to put people first, bringing out their best which shows in their high quality work and efficiency.

Over the years, Helen has risen to many challenges with Arc’teryx, helping us with our first technical ball caps and taped duffle bags. The employees at her facility craft GORE-TEX jackets such as the Zeta SL and Rush with remarkable consistency of quality, despite the narrow margin for error in these technical designs. Karian also makes some of our products for Veilance, a technical urban apparel line which demands a high degree of workmanship, skill ranges and flexibility.

Helen is a willing partner as we lean into reducing the environmental impacts of production. We have a project on the horizon that will bring shared wins in energy efficiency and cost savings, while contributing to our sustainability targets.

The close, interdependent relationship between Arc’teryx and Karian continues to deepen. We rely on Helen and her team to bring our innovations and designs into reality, and she can count on us to accommodate her business needs as we grow and mature together.