When she was exhausted and burned out from a demanding job, Chelsea Rizzo did what many outdoorsy folks do: She planned a thru-hike. Rizzo was all set to hike the Pacific Crest Trail, with permits in hand, when her friend Allison Levy said they should do something even more adventurous: Start an outdoor clothing brand for women.
The duo, both 35, drew on their years of experience in the fashion industry to launch Hikerkind, a chic, multifaceted outdoor apparel company. Since starting with a single fleece in 2021, the brand has exploded, building out a diverse product line and acquiring a large Instagram following.
If you’re a millennial woman on social media, you’ve seen Hikerkind.
To get a better sense of what makes Hikerkind the “it girl” brand of the moment, I spoke with Rizzo and Levy about its origin story, what sets their clothing apart, and how they build community in the outdoors.
How Hikerkind Started
Rizzo and Levy had spent years in the fashion industry in New York. They were accustomed to long hours, demanding shoot days, and a whole lot of hustle. When they met each other on a photoshoot for Gucci, they instantly connected over their love of the outdoors.
They started hiking together, and quickly realized they shared something else: A desire for better clothing.
“We didn’t love the options that were available to us, what we had to wear, and didn’t really feel like we felt like ourselves, or were excited about the clothes we wanted to put on our body to go do an activity that we both felt so passionate about,” Levy said.
The duo wanted something functional and technical, but also versatile and well-tailored. In their ideal world, women wouldn’t have to compromise between style and performance.
“Women have been overlooked for so long in the outdoor industry, and we really are an afterthought,” Rizzo said. “And I’m sure you’ve heard the term ‘shrink it and pink it.’ That’s definitely been the formula or the prescription for women’s clothing for as long as I participated in the activity.”
They launched Hikerkind in 2021 with one piece: a pullover fleece midlayer, and quickly expanded to pants, tops, and jackets.
The Clothing
“Transitionality” is a core value of the brand. Rizzo and Levy say that pieces are designed to be simple, timeless, and classic; they want a woman to be able to wear them from the office to the airport to the trail.
They’re made with water-resistant and durable, technical fabrics, but they don’t scream “mountaineer.” All of the colors, for example, come from nature. You won’t find any neon pink or teal here. Soft lilac, burnt orange, dark brown, and cream anchor the color palette.
If there’s one item of outdoor clothing that women struggle with purchasing, it’s pants. Ask any woman what it’s like trying to find a good pair of well-fitting, comfortable hiking pants, and you’ll get some description of hell.
Rizzo and Levy poured hours into developing pants that women would actually want to wear. They designed the Trail Trouser as a do-it-all pant.
“It’s our easiest silhouette … no fuss, no need to consider anything else,” Rizzo said.
The trousers are made with a durable, quick-dry, water-resistant fabric that Rizzo herself put to the test in a storm in Patagonia.
Plus, all of Hikerkind’s pants are high-waisted, with an elasticated back and flat front. Rizzo and Levy say this design allows for stretch and comfort, while also maintaining a polished look.
The brand’s 8-pocket pants give women the number-one requested feature in clothing: pockets.
Unlike many women’s pants, whose shallow pockets can maybe fit a chapstick, the brand very intentionally created larger pockets that can fit a smartphone, wallet, and any other essentials.
Is Hikerkind Gorpcore?
The broader fashion world has embraced elements of outdoor apparel, blending trends and technical elements to create gorpcore. City residents might wear an Arc’teryx jacket alongside a designer top, for example.
While Rizzo and Levy appreciate anything that gets people excited to go outside, gorpcore included, they see Hikerkind as distinct.
“We’ve been talking a lot about the differentiation between fashion and style, I think a fashion trend right now is gorpcore. I think style is trendless,” Rizzo said.
“Our pieces lend themselves to any aesthetic you want to put them in,” Levy added.
The Hikerkind customer is someone who could be 25 or 75. “We never really want to chase and produce and promote consumption of styles and gear that you know, is not something that you would want to wear later in life,” Rizzo said.
Rizzo and Levy are passionate about getting people outside, and they aim to walk the walk. When Hikerkind first got started, the duo hosted a free weekly hiking club in New York.
Participants would meet at a location and then all go hiking together. As the brand has grown, so have the clubs. There are now 20 different clubs in cities across the country, from Seattle to Austin to Tucson. From May to October of this year, the brand hosted 100 events.
While not exclusive to women, the clubs do bring together women who otherwise couldn’t find hiking partners. Many women, understandably, don’t want to hike alone and find the clubs to be a safe space.
“It’s been incredible to watch our community here in New York grow. The people make friends, and then they graduate, and then the next season, they’re going on trips together,” Rizzo said.
The clubs also keep Hikerkind in touch with its customers, offering a better understanding of their wants and needs. “It’s great because it’s taught us a lot about the women that are out there that we’re trying to talk to with the brand,” Rizzo added.
What’s Next
To grow Hikerkind, Rizzo and Levy are expanding the line, bringing their signature aesthetic and craftsmanship to items that outdoorsy women want. They’re planning to add rain shells, parkas, base layers, and more.
In the past, they partnered with other brands like Gossamer Gear and KEEN to great success, and hinted they are cooking up some fun collabs for 2026.
With a saturated market and consumer culture that bends toward constant consumption, Levy and Rizzo say they keep their core customer in mind.
“We always want to gut check. What are we doing? Is it adding the most value? And how can we do it better in the year to come?” Rizzo asked. “There’s always evolution, because if you’re not evolving, what are you doing?”
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