Close-up of an orange puffer jacket with black zipper, partially open, showing a black inner lining and a faint logo on the chest.

dESIGN.

PROTOTYPE.

PROVE.

Technical and lifestyle apparel shaped by experience and refined through testing, not theory.

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KEY BRANDS I’VE WORKED WITH

  • Duer Logo

DESIGN PRACTICE

I’m Galen Armstrong, a senior apparel designer specializing in outerwear, performance gear, and functional denim.

With over 25 years of experience across brands like Arc’teryx, The North Face, DU/ER, and First Lite, I combine hands-on craftsmanship with technical precision — bringing apparel from concept to fully validated prototype.

My work bridges engineering and design, creating garments that perform in the most demanding environments while connecting to cultural and aesthetic relevance.


Whether leading innovation teams or building samples at my own bench, I approach every project the same way: build first, test early, and refine fast.

Explore Philosophy
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Great design isn’t finished when it’s sketched.

IT’S finished when it’s proven.


I believe the most efficient way to design is to to prototype early — solving fit, function, and construction issues before they become factory problems.


This method reduces development time, eliminates costly sampling rounds, and produces products that perform right the first time.

My process integrates concept creation, pattern engineering, and in-fabric validation — allowing me to bridge the gap between creative direction and technical precision.

See Career Highlights

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS

Experience Spanning Mountains, Cities, and Factory Floors.

Across 25 years in the industry, I’ve worked with global brands and high-performance teams to build products that blend technical function and cultural relevance.


From expedition-grade insulation systems to everyday denim engineered for movement and lifestyle denim featured in popular media, each project is rooted in real-world validation and commercial results.

KEY

HIGHLIGHTS

  • 2010- 2018

    LEAF (Law Enforcement and Armed Forces) Division

    Led design of elite tactical outerwear and performance systems, pioneering new Gore-Tex® and Windstopper® constructions.

  • 2005- 2008

    Lead Designer-Summit Series.

    Collaborated with mountaineers to create award-winning expedition apparel, including the Himalaya Suit (accurate image not available for portfolio) and Mammatus Jacket.

  • Senior Designer

    2020- 2024

    Delivered 80+ seasonal products, from waders to sleep systems, integrating athlete feedback and patent-pending innovation.

  • 2015

    Contract/ Freelance

    Developed the brand’s flagship performance denim pant, merging outerwear-grade durability with urban design.

  • 2001- 2003

    Design Director & Founder

    Created a hip-hop–inspired streetwear line with retail placement at Fred Segal, MTV media features, celebrity interest, and a runway show at Vancouver Fashion Week.

View Core Strengths

CORE STRENGTHS

  • From pattern engineering to in-fabric validation.

  • Balancing mobility, protection, and durability.

  • Collaborating with mills, validating new constructions.

  • Guiding design teams through concept, iteration, and execution.

  • Fluent in product, sourcing, and manufacturing workflows.

  • Concept → Prototype → Factory Ready.

View Featured Work

FEATURED WORK

This selection represents my work across diverse categories — tactical and expedition outerwear, field-tested performance gear, and culturally driven denim/streetwear.


Whether developing systems for Arc’teryx and The North Face or creating denim and early brand collections for DU/ER and Stuurmans, my process stays consistent:


Build it. Test it. Improve it before it reaches production.

TECHNICAL DESIGN

ARC'TERYX
FIRST LITE
THE NORTH FACE

LIFESTYLE DESIGN

STUURMANS DENIM
DU/ER DENIM

FIRST LITE

SENIOR DESIGNER

2020-2024

Delivered over 80 seasonally-driven outerwear and gear products built around real field testing and athlete feedback.

  • First Lite Whitecloud Down Bib Pant

    Whitecloud Down Bib Pant

  • Colter Parka

    Colter Parka

  • First Lite Omen Jacket

    Omen Jacket

  • First Lite Omen pant

    Omen pant

  • First Lite LZ Bib Pant

    LZ BIb Pant

  • First Lite Straightline Field Vest

    Straightline Field Vest

  • First Lite 308 Lined Pant

    308 Lined Pant

  • First Lite Tundra Brim Beanie

    Tundra Brim Beanie

  • First Lite Primer Puffy Jacket

    Primer Puffy Jacket

  • First Lite Trace Boonie Hat

    Trace Boonie Hat

  • Trace Pant

    Trace Pant

  • Migrator Wader Jacket

    Migrator Wader Jacket

  • First Lite Forge Waterfowl Wader

    Forge Waterfowl wader

  • First Lite Women's Core Jacket

    Core Jacket- WOMEn's

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aRC’TERYX

LEAD DESIGNER, LEAF

2010-2018

Designed and prototyped elite tactical outerwear, pioneering construction systems for extreme environments.

  • LEAF Alpha Gen 2 Jacket

    Leaf alpha gen 2 jacket

  • LEAF Assault Pant AR

    Leaf Assault Pant AR

  • Leaf SVX Parka & Bib

    LEAF SVX Parka

  • LEAF SVX Bib Pant

    LEAF SVX Bib PANT

  • LEAF ALPHA BIB GEN 2

    LEAF ALPHA BIB GEN 2

  • LEAF COLD WX LONGSLEEVE AR

    LEAF COLD WX LONGSLEEVE AR

  • LEAF COLD WX T-SHIRT AR

    LEAF COLD WX T-SHIRT AR

  • LEAF COLD WX ZIP NECK AR

    LEAF COLD WX ZIP NECK AR

  • LEAF Cold WX zip neck SV

    LEAF Cold WX zip neck SV

  • LEAF Cold WX Bottom SV

    LEAF Cold WX Bottom SV

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THE NORTH FACE

LEAD DESIGNER, SUMMIT SERIES

2005-2008

Redesigned the Summit Series in partnership with high-altitude athletes, creating prototypes validated on expedition.
The Triumph Anorak earned Outside Magazine’s 2008 Gear of the Year Award.

  • TNF Triumph Anorak

    TNF Triumph Anorak

  • TNF Mammatus Jacket

    TNF Mammatus Jacket

  • TNF Mountain Guide Jacket

    TNF Mountain Guide Jacket

  • TNF Reversible Mercurial

    TNF Reversible Mercurial JACKET

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DU/ER DENIM

CONtract DESIGN/ PERFORMANCE DENIM

2015

Designed DU/ER’s flagship performance denim pant—now the brand’s longest-running best-seller.

  • Duer Performance Denim Front

    Performance Denim Front

  • Duer Performance Denim Side

    Performance Denim Pant Side

  • Duer Performance Denim Pant

    Performance Denim Pant Rear

  • Duer Performance Denim Gusset

    Performance Denim Pant Gusset

  • Duer Peformance Denim Pant Pocket

    Peformance Denim Pant Pocket

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STUURMANS DENIM

DESIGN DIRECTOR & FOUNDER

2001- 2003

Founded a hip-hop–inspired streetwear brand, creating prototypes and narrative-driven collections that reached Fred Segal, caught the attention of MTV, attracted celebrity interest, and showcased at Vancouver Fashion Week.

  • Reversible Denim Pant Front

    Reversible Denim Pant Solid FRONT

  • Stuurmans Denim Pant Back

    Reversible Denim Pant Solid Back

  • Stuurmans Reversible Denim Pant Front

    Reversible Denim Pant Pattern Front

  • Stuurmans Reversible Denim Pant Pattern Back

    Reversible Denim Pant Pattern Back

  • Stuurmans Denim Jacket Front

    Stuurmans Denim Jacket Front

  • Stuurmans Denim Jacket Back

    Stuurmans Denim Jacket Back

  • Stuurmans Logo Denim Front

    Logo Denim Front

  • Stuurmans Logo Denim Back

    Logo Denim Back

Back To Featured Work

ADDITIONAL

BRAND CONTRIBUTIONS

OPTION/NFA

ROXY/QUIKSILVER

PIPSNEAKS KIDS

MOOSEJAW MOUNTAINEERING

CLOUDVEIL

PLANET EARTH

IRONWOOD

WESTBEACH

NITRO SNOWBOARDS

ARSON/ORB

I’m open to senior design and product innovation opportunities in outerwear, technical apparel, and performance-lifestyle design.

If you values real-world testing, precision construction, and efficient prototyping, I’d love to connect.

Let’s BUILD WHAT’S NExT

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