The story of the iconic clothing item that led to the creation of SLAM
Mickey Bear, the fleece that defined an era
Four young sailing enthusiasts were facing a very real problem: staying warm while racing in winter conditions, without carrying the weight and discomfort of wet wool. Their answer came from a material that was virtually unknown in the sailing world at the time, and certainly not considered technical apparel.
Thermal fleece, commonly known as ‘pile’, was used mostly for soft toys, not for sailing clothing. Sailors were curious: they touched it, stretched it, and tried to understand what it could really do. Many had never seen anything like it before. The difference was immediate and eventually, some of them decided to wear it during the Winter Championship races: that moment marked a turning point.
The fleece they were distributing needed a name: something simple, familiar, almost ironic. They called it Mickey Bear, a nod to the teddy bear, one of the few objects made of pile at the time.
