Choose what you need, pack it all into a single bag, and set out.
Cross mountains, pass through valleys, and make your way to that day's destination. On a mountain journey where you carry your belongings on your back, everything you wear and carry becomes a part of your life.
Monterest's KOSU collection is a series inspired by the wisdom of nomads who move with the seasons. Store it, combine it, and adapt it to the changing environment. We have translated this philosophy into apparel that accompanies you on long journeys.
What the name KOSU represents
The name KOSU comes from the Kazakh word for "transhumance," the practice of moving one's living place according to the seasons.
Nomads carry what they need for daily life and move to the next land with the changing seasons. Moving is also an act of forging new connections with the mountains and the earth.
Fitting your home into your luggage and creating a life along the way. We found a commonality between this way of life and mountain journeys where you walk with your belongings on your back.
Imagine the environment of your destination, choose the necessary equipment, and prepare it to be carried. This is where KOSU's design begins.
The role of apparel extends to storage
Wear a garment when you set out, take it off and put it in your backpack as you climb. When you feel the wind during a break, take it out and put it on again.
In the mountains, there are times when you carry your clothes just as much as you wear them.
At KOSU, we also consider the moments when apparel is stored. We have designed each item to be easy to carry, including packable features that allow the garment itself to fit into a pocket, tailored to the purpose of each item.
Organizing your belongings makes it easier to take the next step. Storage is also one of the functions that supports mountain journeys.
Combine and adapt to change
The cold air at the start of the walk. Your rising body temperature as you climb. The wind through the ridge and the chill you feel during a break.
Even within the same day, the environment surrounding your body is constantly changing.
What KOSU values is the ability to change your apparel combinations to suit those changes. A base layer close to the skin, fleece or mid-layers for added warmth, and a shell to protect against wind and rain. By layering each role, you create the outfit you need at that moment.
Think of storage and combinations as one continuous process. Wear, take off, store, and layer again. This collection supports that cycle.
Choosing for the long journey ahead
Preparing for a mountain journey begins by imagining your destination.
How far will you walk? What weather is expected? Where will you rest, and where will you spend the night?
The apparel you need changes depending on the season, route, and pace. Organize the roles of your existing equipment as well, and choose a combination that suits your journey. KOSU offers options to help you do just that.
Think about how you will use the function of each garment during your journey. Your life in the mountains begins with the time you spend preparing.
Turning the journey into your home
Carry what you need and adapt it to that day's environment as you move forward.
Mountain journeys, where you move your place of living one step at a time, share a sensibility with the nomadic way of life.
KOSU aims to create apparel that supports the flow of such a journey. Organize your belongings, rearrange your outfit, and head further into the mountains.
To walk the next path in your own way.
