Where the Paths Crossed
Will and Kelly Watters met in Vail, Colorado. They were both ski instructors, with Will doubling as a fly fishing guide. Their days were packed with action, but one inconvenience bugged them: lugging around a bag of activity-specific clothes.
Fabric of an Idea
Will's family in Georgia runs a successful multi-generation textile manufacturing business. This sparked an idea. Could they design versatile clothing using performance fibers that could transition across activities? Clothing that would adapt to their lives, not the other way around.
Travel, Not Just Trails
Their vision was bigger than just creating convenient outdoor wear. They saw their clothes in the hustle and bustle of Tokyo, in the vibrant markets of Marrakech, and in every place a modern traveler would want to explore. Clothes that wouldn’t just be worn, but lived in.
A Brand Rises
They named their venture "Western Rise", inspired by their roots, the rise of the Rocky Mountains, and the indomitable spirit of explorers, adventurers, and entrepreneurs who made them their home.
Stitching the Path Forward
Starting a clothing brand came with its fair share of challenges. Design, supply chain management, even moments of self-doubt, but their belief in their idea provided a steady compass.
Travel isn’t always pretty. It isn’t always comfortable. Sometimes it hurts, it even breaks your heart. But that’s okay. The journey changes you; it should change you. It leaves marks on your memory, on your consciousness, on your heart, and on your body. You take something with you. Hopefully you leave something good behind.