The story behind the series: 2018 Holiday Series – A seasonal narrative of style and performance

When the Christmas lights in 2018 lit up the windows for the first time, Flexlara launched a landmark holiday series with a design experiment that combined the spirit of polar exploration with the aesthetics of urban parties. This series, which carries the brand’s “boundless sports” concept, combines professional ski suit technology with the tailoring logic of evening dresses for the first time, creating a pioneering item that can be freely switched between morning runs in the snow and Christmas balls. Looking back now, the 2018 series is not only a seasonal creation, but also a key node in Flexlara’s evolution from a sports brand to a lifestyle symbol.

Design Origin: Party Inspiration in Polar Research Station

In 2018, the design team got the core inspiration at the Aurora Observatory in Tromsø, Norway. When they saw the researchers dancing under the aurora in functional clothing, they realized: “Holiday clothing should be as reliable as Arctic research uniforms and as attractive as banquet dresses.” So they combined the minus 30℃ cold-proof technology with the champagne-colored sequins process, and used deep sea blue, ice crystal white and wine red to construct the visual narrative of “Glacier Party”.

Key inspiration transformation:

• Research uniform details: The waterproof glue pressing process of Arctic boots is applied to the seams of the jacket to ensure that there is no leakage during morning jogging in the snow;

• Dress tailoring: The drape design is extracted from the 1920s dinner dress, so that the sports vest presents an elegant arc when dancing;

• Aurora color: Through a special dyeing process, the fabric presents an aurora-like color flow effect under different light.

Star items: the balance between technology and aesthetics

▍1. ThermaSculpt polar tights: “Ice ballet” that heats up

As the technological pinnacle of the series, this pair of tights has built-in “intelligent temperature control fiber” – when the ambient temperature is below 5℃, the phase change particles in the fabric will automatically release the stored heat, so that the legs always maintain a comfortable 22℃. Paris fashion blogger @sportchic recorded: “At the Christmas market in the Alps, these pants allowed me to do yoga and warm up freely during an open-air dinner at minus 10℃.”

Hidden technology:

• The 3D three-dimensional cut at the knees imitates the knee bending angle of skiers, and the fabric stretch rate during squats is 2.3 times that of ordinary tights;

• The snowflake-shaped reflective strips on the back waist are like wearing miniature Christmas lights when walking at night, increasing the safety factor by 40%.

▍2. Aurora sports bra: the art of support under the aurora

The breakthrough “light-sensitive color-changing” shoulder straps – when exposed to ultraviolet rays, they will gradually change from wine red to ice crystal white, inspired by the color changes of the northern lights. More importantly, its “dynamic support system”: it provides medium-intensity support in daily conditions. When the heart rate is detected to be over 120 times/minute, the built-in memory alloy strip will automatically tighten to control the chest displacement within 1.5cm.

▍3. FestiveFleece hoodie: a breathing Christmas sweater

Subverting the heavy impression of traditional fleece, this hoodie uses “air sandwich” technology – a micron-level air layer between two layers of ultra-fine polar fleece, which has a warmth effect equivalent to 3 ordinary sweaters, but the weight is reduced by 50%. New York dancer Sophie said in her review: “During the Christmas Eve street flash mob performance, this hoodie allowed me to complete a 30-minute hot dance in the cold wind, and my back was always dry.”

Technical Narrative: When Christmas Elements Become Functional Symbols

The innovation of the 2018 series lies in the transformation of holiday elements into technical language:

• Snowflake-shaped vents: 6 snowflake-shaped vents are laser-cut on the back of the vest, which increases the air volume by 30% compared to ordinary mesh and forms a unique Christmas visual;

• Bell-shaped shock-absorbing design: Micro-silicone particles are hidden in the cup of the sports bra, which makes a soft sound when running, becoming a “singing sports equipment”;

• Gift box packaging technology: The tag of each single product is designed as a foldable Christmas gift box, which will play a 10-second carol melody when opened.

Sustainable Heritage: An Underrated Environmental Pioneer

Although the 2018 collection attracts attention with its gorgeous appearance, its environmental practices have set an industry precedent:

• Recycled fur replacement: The fur collar of the hoodie is made of 100% recycled polyester fiber, which feels the same as real fur, but reduces carbon emissions by 92%;

• Degradable sequins: The decorative sequins of the party vest are made of corn starch-based materials and can be naturally degraded after 50 washes;

• Zero waste tailoring: The paper pattern design of all items adopts “puzzle layout”, and the fabric utilization rate reaches 98%, which is 25% higher than the industry average.

Verification from 2025

The environmental protection technology that was considered “too advanced” at the time has now become a standard configuration of Flexlara’s core product line. The then director of sustainable development said in an interview: “The 2018 series taught us that environmental innovation can coexist with the gorgeousness of the festival.”

Conclusion: When sports equipment becomes a carrier of holiday memories

The real value of the 2018 holiday series lies in redefining the scene boundary of “holiday sports” – when you wear ThermaSculpt tights to do morning poses in the snow, or wear a FestiveFleece hoodie to open gifts under the Christmas tree, these pictures prove that the best holiday equipment is to make every action part of the holiday ritual.

Now in Flexlara’s archives, there is always a polar photography book next to the design manuscripts of the 2018 series – this reminds designers: real innovation is to make functionality and emotional value bloom unexpectedly in the dark like the northern lights.

🔗 Explore the latest “Polar Party” capsule series inspired by the 2018 series and experience the contemporary interpretation of classic technology.