Behind the Design: Airlight

Behind The Design: Airlight

Join us at L.L.Bean headquarters for an insider’s look at where our active line started – and how the Airlight is still destined to be one of the most versatile pieces in any closet.

2-3 Min. Watch | Buying Guides

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[00:00:00.12] Hi, I'm Kate, Senior Product Developer in Active Apparel at LL Bean. And I'm super excited to take you behind the design of one of my favorite active tops, the Airlight.

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[00:00:09.94] Text: L L Bean Behind the Design, Airlight.

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[00:00:12.72] I have one of the greatest jobs at the company. I get to create the products that help get people outside. As a product developer, I take a lot of pride in making sure that the fabric that I pick is doing everything that I want it to. When we first came out with our active line, we were really experimenting with a lot of different fabrics. And this is one that rose to the occasion. This fabric is quick dry. It has wicking. It's also UPF 50. So it's going to keep you nice and safe from the sun.

[00:00:38.42] And all of this is done with just the knitting of the fabric. So we don't have any sort of a special treatment that's on there. It's all truly in the construction of the fabric. We've got a lot of stretch in the fabric itself. We have this great baffle construction. The baffles are the chambers that have the yarns in between them. The yarns themselves are really what are insulating you. The fabric itself is super lightweight. So you do have all that warmth without any sort of bulk next to your body.

[00:01:03.88] One of the things I really love about the Airlight is just how versatile this fabric is. You can wear Airlight out and about, and it's a little bit more dressed up. But you can wear it out on your next adventure as well. So we offer Airlight in men's and women's and kids. We've got our quarter-snap, full-zip. The vest is one of my favorite pieces. And for the kids, we also have Airlight in a great full-zip. We're always looking to evolve our line. We want to give our customer new styles and color to really keep things fresh.

[00:01:31.02] When we first get our products, we get our samples, and we take them immediately into the outdoors. We really want to make sure that the product is going to do what we say it's going to do. This is a product we know you love because we have 10,000 five-star reviews telling us how you feel about our Airlight.

[00:01:46.60] "Why did I wait so long? Everyone else in my family had one, but I didn't. The weight of the fabric is perfect for wearing alone or under a jacket when it's colder out. After many, many washes, they look fit and feel as good as the day I bought them. Definitely recommend." I love that one because that, to me, is exactly what we're looking for. Everything that we love about this product is what our customers love about it as well. If you want to see more product stories just like this one, don't forget to hit the Like and Subscribe buttons.

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[00:02:14.16] Text: For more product stories and outdoor inspiration visit L L Bean dot com slash explore.

Airlight: A New L.L.Bean Icon

It usually takes decades for a product to earn its icon status at L.L.Bean, but Airlight has skipped to the front of the line. While the collection has only been around since 2018, it holds the distinction of being our “O.G. active fabric,” quickly becoming a favorite for its incredible ability to balance versatility, comfort, and durability.

People with backpacks walk near a lakeside campsite with tents and trees, mountains and water in the background.

The Need: A Piece That Works in the Office and the Outdoors

On the trails behind L.L.Bean headquarters in Freeport, Maine, you’ll often find employees getting steps in at lunchtime. And for our product developers paying attention, this 12 o’clock ritual looked a lot like an opportunity. L.L.Bean didn’t have anything in its lineup versatile enough to transition seamlessly between outdoor and casual activities. So, they started the search for a fabric that hikers, runners, travelers, and office workers alike could wear from one place to another without any thought.

“I like a garment that can take me from the trail to the restaurant afterward.”

Kate, Senior Product Developer, Active Apparel

The Solve: Fabric and Construction That Does It All

Kate M., Senior Product Developer at L.L.Bean, is the first to test every piece she has a hand in. It’s the perfect gig for an active person in Maine, and Airlight has proved perfect for everything her lifestyle demands: as a layer for skiing and hiking, or when she’s running errands or running meetings. The key ingredient is a unique baffle construction that provides warmth when you need it and breathability to cool you down if things warm up. It also has stretch, wicks away moisture, dries quickly, and provides UPF 50+ sun protection for all-day, on-the-go comfort. Incredibly, this was all achieved without any fancy chemical treatments: the fabric and construction simply work together as the perfect package.

“It keeps you warm when it's cool and breathes when it's warm - that's the Airlight's superpower.”

Kate, Senior Product Developer, Active Apparel

The Customer is Always Right

If there’s one thing we take pride in at L.L.Bean, it’s listening to our customers. Airlight has compiled over 10,000 5-star reviews, cementing its status as a top customer favorite. We carefully read all reviews, looking for things to improve and new styles to introduce.

“I now know why my husband lives in these. I picked one up for myself at the retail store and went back for two more.”

Verified L.L.Bean Customer

It's All in the Details

We developed our Airlight tops to be incredibly versatile, super comfortable and great-looking, with helpful design details that will keep you reaching for them day after day.