Portland Creative List Portland Oregon's resource for local creative service businesses, jobs, and events.

Portland is rapidly becoming a mecca for innovation in activewear. From interchangeable shoe soles, to breathable outerwear for cycling and snowboarding, to sustainable fashion designs, there are terrific innovations happening locally! Activewear firms design, develop, manufacture, market, distribute and sell apparel, footwear and gear for active outdoor recreation. The activewear category consists of more than 300 firms in Oregon, employing more than 14,000 people with an approximate payroll of $1.2 billion. The activewear industry cluster is growing in Oregon and includes numerous start-ups that are creating local jobs and using the rich and talented local knowledge base. This exciting industry cluster is designing and producing innovative products that address niche markets that are currently underserved by the local giants.

Join the OEN at the September Pub Talk to hear from four activewear entrepreneurs who will share their stories of how they got started, how they have grown, and the unique opportunities available to them because of their presence in this hotbed of innovation.

Moderator:
Rob Langstaff – RYZ

Panelists:
Carrie Atkinson – Sock it to me
Sean Beers – Korkers
Ed Dalton – Showers Pass
Bill Worthington – OluKai

Bios:

Rob Langstaff
RYZ is a design-driven men’s footwear brand – the brainchild of former President of Adidas U.S. and Japan, Rob Langstaff. Founded at the close of 2008, RYZ began garnering attention for opening up its design process to the consumer, collaborating with artists and designers. After submitting a successful design concept of his own – the process would connect Rob with future Creative Director – renowned artist and designer Todd Alan Breland. Sharing a strong work ethic and passion for their crafts – the two would set out to change the footwear industry.

Rob Langstaff earned an M.B.A. from Schiller International University in Heidelberg, Germany, and B.S. from the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs and obtained the rank of Captain in the US Air Force. He is the former Air Force Academy record holder for the 1500 meters and remains an avid runner. Rob Langstaff speaks three languages (English, German and Japanese).

Carrie Atkinson
Carrie Atkinson is the founder and president of Sock it to Me, which was started in 2004. Sock it to Me provides bright and funky socks with a focus on design, to retailers around the world. In Carrie’s first day of business she sold 27 pairs of socks out of her tent at the Portland Saturday Market. Fast forward 6 years and the company employees 5 people, warehouses 150,000 pairs of socks, and has national distribution. Carrie has been involved in all aspects of the business including product development, design, marketing, operations, manufacturing, tradeshows, box packing, fork lift driving, and sales. The team just hired their first full time person to help aid in the growth of the business. Every year sales continue to rise with 2010 sales up 70% from the previous year.

Sock it to Me holds a unique contest that asks the public to help with their new designs. Each year they hold the Design A Sock Contest, where fans submit their own design ideas; hand drawn or electronically created. The contest brings in 300-500 new designs each time and the 1st place winner receives $500 cash, in addition to their sock being produced. This contest has been a great idea generator for the business as well as an engaging community event.

This year the team’s focus is to increase distribution, fine tune the sales strategy, and strengthen their brand.

Sean Beers
Sean Beers, CEO at Korkers, leads the product, sales, marketing, finance and operating teams at the Company. Since 1959, Korkers™ has created functional and versatile footwear for outdoor adventurers. Korkers’ proprietary OmniTrax™ Interchangeable Sole System provides a variety of performance traction options – from studded felt to sticky rubber – so no fishing spot is out of reach. Based in Portland, Oregon, the company’s team of avid fishing and outdoor enthusiasts are dedicated to developing product solutions that combine design advances with innovative technology.

Prior to Korkers, Mr. Beers served as the General Manager of Columbia Sportswear Company’s global footwear business, where he successfully executed an operational turnaround of the division while positioning it for future growth. With extensive consumer products and general management experience, he was also integral to executing the successful turnaround of the Sorel brand, which grew from bankruptcy at the time he assisted Columbia in acquiring the brand to approximately $50 mm in revenue under his leadership. Mr. Beers is a member of the Oregon State Bar and a licensed CPA in Oregon. His interests include writing and playing music, fly fishing, and boating with his family.

Ed Dalton – Showers Pass
Ed Dalton, principal and co-president of Showers Pass, bought a bike when a surgeon told him to stop running following a knee surgery. Dalton enjoyed cycling so much, he decided to purchase failing company Showers Pass in 2005. He moved the small company, which started in California in 1997, to Portland, Oregon. Soon the former footwear design and manufacturing consultant was tinkering with the company’s designs to get the styles he believe would raise the level of products sold to bicycle retailers. Since then the company has grown rapidly, 40% growth in 2009 and they are on track to grown 60 percent in 2010. Showers Pass distributes it’s technical outerwear to the best independent bike dealers in the USA and to major national specialty dealers such as REI, LL Bean and Mountain Equipment Co-op in Canada. Ed also brought on partner and Co-President Kyle Ranson, former CEO of InFocus, who manages operations and finance.

Showers Pass designs breathable, rainproof bike and bicycle lifestyle clothing for commuters, racers and other bike enthusiasts. Showers Pass cycling jackets, rain pants and vests are also popular with winter hikers, Nordic skiers and runners who seek light weight, good ventilation and protection from rain and wind. Store owners like carrying Showers Pass bike clothing because it’s functional and priced for every cyclist’s budget. Showers Pass bike clothing is carried in stores across the country, as well as Canada, Japan, Ireland, and the United Kingdom.

Bill Worthington – OluKai
Bill Worthington is co-founder and creative director of OluKai Premium Footwear. OluKai, founded in 2004, is a “premium ocean lifestyle” footwear brand, specializing in high quality sandals and shoes. Prior to founding OluKai, Bill was an owner and designer at Worthing1 Design for five years. Bill has also served as a consultant designer for Converse and a Creative Director at both DC Shoes and Fila. Bill got his start at Nike, wear he worked for nine years as a Senior Footwear Designer specializing in cleated, cross training and skateboarding shoes.

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