Chinese authorities are investigating outdoor clothing brand Arc’teryx after the company apologised for a controversial fireworks display in Tibet that critics say harmed a fragile Himalayan ecosystem.
Videos from the 19 September event show bursts of multi-coloured fireworks lighting up the foothills in Tibet’s Shigatse region, designed by renowned Chinese artist Cai Guo-Qiang as part of a promotional campaign titled Rising Dragon.
The display—held at over 5,000 meters—quickly drew backlash online. Environmentalists and social media users accused Arc’teryx of undermining its conservation-focused image, with some calling for a boycott. Tibetans and others also questioned staging the spectacle in an area considered sacred and tightly controlled by Beijing since the 1950s.
In a statement, the Canadian brand admitted the stunt was “out of line with Arc’teryx’s values” and pledged to work with an external agency to assess its environmental impact. The company said it had used biodegradable materials and intended the event to celebrate mountain culture, but added: “We need to be more humble and respectful of nature.”
Cai Guo-Qiang, famous for his pyrotechnic art and for designing the 2008 Beijing Olympics fireworks, also apologised and vowed to cooperate with authorities on recovery efforts.
Arc’teryx—founded in 1989 and owned by Hong Kong-listed Anta Sports—operates more than 150 stores worldwide and is widely known for its high-end mountaineering and outdoor gear.
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