The Beginnings
Will and Kelly Watters met in the beautiful mountain town of Vail, Colorado. What started as a desire to create transitional clothing for anything that happens in a typical mountain town day soon expanded into a broader mission. In a world trapped in an endless cycle of work routines, doom scrolling, and the repetitiveness of the daily grind, an anxious burnout society is emerging. We felt a growing desire for more—a universal yearning for meaning beyond our daily monotony. This desire, combined with our love for travel and exploration, led us to create Western Rise, a brand dedicated to helping individuals experience a fulfilling life through thoughtful design and purposeful products.
Our Journey
Founded by Kelly and Will Watters, Western Rise was born from a passion for exploration and a commitment to quality. As avid travelers, we recognized the need for clothing that could keep up with our active lifestyles while maintaining a sense of style and sophistication. Whether navigating city streets or trekking through mountain trails, we wanted apparel that seamlessly transitions from one adventure to the next. With backgrounds in outdoor guiding and textiles, we set out to create a brand that bridges the gap between performance and everyday wear, making travel easier and more enjoyable.
Manifesto
We live in a time of uncertainty which is breeding a pool of fear, a fear that is leading us to avoid risks. This avoidance is in turn creating a downward spiral in the accumulation of disposable possessions, in an effort to validate themselves. This saturation of the meaningless has distracted us from what’s important in our lives and has undermined our value of beauty. But from this overwhelming stream of noise springs a collective yearning for focus. A focus that brings clarity and beauty to our lives and the world around us.
We’ve found harmony in living a thoughtful life filled of exploration and we want to celebrate and share what we’ve discovered. We’ve learned this life isn’t dependent on wealth. It comes to anyone entranced by the magnitude of the world and to those who value creativity.
We invite you to pause, take a deep breath, and begin to look around.
Join us.
We work to inspire and equip travelers for transformative journeys. We craft the most versatile and high-performance travel clothing in the world. Designed for diverse environments and rigorously tested globally, our apparel enhances every facet of the travel experience. And because the most memorable journeys are those we share, we curate a range of visual storytelling and unique experiences to connect like-minded explorers, near and far, and to compel people to embark on their own adventures.
We work to inspire and equip travelers for transformative journeys. We craft the most versatile and high-performance travel clothing in the world. Designed for diverse environments and rigorously tested globally, our apparel enhances every facet of the travel experience. And because the most memorable journeys are those we share, we curate a range of visual storytelling and unique experiences to connect like-minded explorers, near and far, and to compel people to embark on their own adventures.
We work to inspire and equip travelers for transformative journeys. We craft the most versatile and high-performance travel clothing in the world. Designed for diverse environments and rigorously tested globally, our apparel enhances every facet of the travel experience. And because the most memorable journeys are those we share, we curate a range of visual storytelling and unique experiences to connect like-minded explorers, near and far, and to compel people to embark on their own adventures.
