Outdoor Afro: We Are Nature

Frequently asked questions

• How have you included the Black community in this partnership?

  Over the last two years, we’ve worked closely with members of the Black community and the Outdoor Afro community to help inform product design. Together, Outdoor Afro and REI Co-op have worked to center the voices of Black adventurers. We’ve conducted extensive research—all of it co-developed, co-facilitated and co-synthesized—and we think the results speak for themselves. Specifically, we gained robust insights from members of the Outdoor Afro community, and we partnered with Outdoor Afro Inc. on every last detail. Field testing of the collection was done with members of the Outdoor Afro community. Representation matters, both in front of the camera and behind it. And throughout the creative process, we spoke with and listened to a community of our Black employees, embracing our ethos of intentional and inclusive design.

• How can I learn more about Outdoor Afro?

  Outdoor Afro has two branches: the not-for-profit organization Outdoor Afro Org and the for-profit business Outdoor Afro Inc. Visit the Outdoor Afro website to learn more.

• Where can I learn more about REI's racial equity, diversity and inclusion efforts or commitments?

  We believe the outdoors is for everyone, and we’re committed to becoming a fully inclusive, anti-racist, multicultural organization. You can read more about how we put purpose before profits in our annual Impact Report. It details our Cooperative Action efforts in grassroots advocacy, our commitments to advancing inclusion outside, our ongoing sustainability work and more.

• Why are REI and Outdoor Afro partnering together to create this product?

  Outdoor Afro Org is a not-for-profit organization that celebrates and inspires Black connection and leadership in nature. REI Co-op is an outdoor retailer that seeks to get more people outside. Together, we share an enduring 13-year relationship founded in the transformational power of the outdoors. This co-created collection marks a new chapter in our relationship: the launch of Outdoor Afro Inc., a for-profit business that embodies and promotes the values of Outdoor Afro Org through relevant product design, manufacturing, sales and outdoor experiences.

• What other organizations does REI partner with?

  Partnerships are at the heart of the co-op and have been since our beginnings in 1938. We continue to evaluate partnership opportunities that support our co-op mission. You can expect more partnerships and product collaborations in the years to come.

• What does "We Are Nature" mean?

  “We Are Nature” isn’t an invitation to go outside. It’s an invitation to celebrate something that’s in you—and has always been in you. We were made by nature, and its rhythms guide our very existence. Our breath and heartbeat are constant reminders of life’s pulsing rhythm that moves within us, just as the roots of our communities are intertwined with the roots of the trees around us. From mountaintops to your grandmother’s backyard 30 years ago, the place where you can let your guard down and close your eyes is out there. We’re not just one with nature. We are nature.

• How were Black people involved in the creation of the photography, marketing materials and creative work?

  We partnered with Outdoor Afro to consider representation in front of and behind the camera, and on set during the location photoshoot. For photography, we worked with Joshua Kissi, Fela Raymond and TONL. For video, we worked with Nate the Director from Invisible and Maya Table from Curator. Our talent is a mix of Outdoor Afro leaders, REI Co-op partners and models are from the Black community.

• Is this a limited partnership or product launch?

  Outdoor Afro Inc. and REI Co-op are committed to a multi-year collaboration and are working together on future plans.

• What is the significance of the locations listed on the products?

  These are places that have been seen as safe for Black people in America to live, relax and recreate for decades. We call them Black Oases, and their stories celebrate generations of abundance and Black joy in nature that are still meaningful to their communities today.