Our Core Beliefs
Keela was built on the foundation of IQT.
INNOVATION, QUALITY, TECHNOLOGY
We pride ourselves on our approach to design and research, and constantly work to improve according to our core beliefs – Innovation (IQT) Sustainability and Community.
From our base on the east coast of Scotland, we’ve been pushing the boundaries of outdoor gear design since 1989.
The first Keela kit was tried and tested by local mountain rescue teams. Today, you’ll find our gear worn wherever extreme conditions demand the ultimate in technology, performance and durability.
Innovation has always been at the heart of what we do. Our founder patented the world’s first seam-sealing machine, revolutionising the capabilities of waterproof clothing.
That was just the beginning.
In the 1990s, Keela’s Research and Development team began working on the knottiest problem in outdoor gear design: how to manage inner condensation in wet and cold conditions. The result was System Dual Protection (SDP), a pioneering double layer fabric system that offered game-changing breathability.It netted the Queen’s Award for Enterprise: Innovation and (here’s the bit we like best) now helps to keep adventurers like you drier and more comfortable in the toughest conditions.
We continue to come up with cutting-edge concepts, from the world’s first fully tape-sealed fleece to carbon activated fabrics with inherent microbial properties. After thirty years, we’re still living up to our founding principles: innovation, quality and technology.
We are proud to be one of the last ‘true’ outdoor gear manufacturers. Keela clothing is all produced at our own factory facilities. That means we mastermind every step of the manufacturing process in-house, from sourcing the raw materials to testing breathability, colour fastness and heat resistance. In other words, each Keela garment is 100% traceable. Retaining ownership of our manufacturing facilities allows us to be;
- Innovative: Keeping a close relationship between the design and manufacturing processes puts us ahead of the field when it comes to developing new technologies.
- Ethical: We make sure that our products comply with the highest ethical standards. Our production facilities are ‘Garments without Guilt’ accredited and every stage of our supply chain follows the Ethical Trading Initiative Base Code.
- Thorough: Our laboratory testing facilities use state-of-the-art machines to make sure that only the most robust garments end up in your wardrobe. And if your old kit needs a little TLC, the UK-based Keela Clothing Hospital has thirty years of experience in repairing damaged gear.
We want to make sure the great outdoors stays great.
We’re proud to have been the first Scottish clothing manufacturer to sign up for the Sustainable Clothing Action Plan (SCAP). Since then, we’ve expanded our efforts through initiatives like our Legacy Project, which repairs, repurposes, and reuses returned and surplus garments, ensuring nothing goes to waste.
Environmental responsibility is woven into everything we do. From boycotting harmful substances like PVC and PTFE laminates to sourcing raw materials sustainably and donating surplus fabric to charities, we’re making choices that benefit both people and the planet. Plus, our garments are designed to last, meaning less waste ends up in landfill.
What’s more, our Clothing Hospital will extend the life of your kit by repairing anything from a torn seam to a bust zip – better for you and better for the planet.
Keela gear offers unrivalled performance in the very toughest conditions.
That’s what makes us the brand of choice for countless rescue teams, explorers, police units and other outdoor professionals across the world.
We’ve supplied garments for large-scale military contracts, worked with mountain rescue teams to design bespoke clothing – even kitted out a camera team facing -40°c conditions for the TV show Manhunt. We think you’ll agree that we’re more than just another outdoor clothing brand.
But don’t take it from us. Take it from the experts on the hills.