Kootenay Approved & Inspired:
Meet Carissa of Wildelore Clothing
Launched via a Kickstarter campaign in 2021, Wildelore Clothing has found a following among moms who love to get outdoors. This is how the unique brand came to find its niche.
Carissa Misener (pictured above) was five months pregnant and wanting to continue enjoying her time outdoors but couldn’t find suitable maternity attire that would allow her get out there comfortably.
Fast forward to today and Carissa and her husband Chas own Wildelore, an outdoor apparel company for pregnancy, nursing, postpartum and beyond. “It’s our mission to empower women in their motherhood phases to spend more time outside,” Carissa says.
Below is our conversation with Carissa about what inspired the launch of her company and why Wildelore is Kootenay Approved.
Hey Carissa, thanks for chatting with us. First question: what makes your business unique?
Wildelore is an outdoor brand, but our clothing is designed specifically for women who are pregnant and/or nursing. And, while there are real physical benefits to getting outside, we also recognize and encourage the spiritual and emotional benefits of spending time in nature. So while our gear can be enjoyed by high-performance woman, it is also equally beneficial for women who enjoy a more leisurely relationship with nature. Both are important along the motherhood journey. I also think recognizing and communicating about how ancient our relationship with the outdoors is makes us a bit different in terms of outdoor brands. There’s a deeper connection happening, and that’s the juicy stuff we love here at Wildelore.
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What are some awards, accolades, or milestones you’ve achieved since starting your business?
Our Kickstarter launch one year ago was a huge milestone for us. Since then I’d say that placing our second purchase order for our All Phases Fleece is a pretty big deal. As well, being close to a PO for a second product, our 100 percent merino wool nursing base layer, is also super exciting. Being able to offer a second product on our website next fall will be key.
How do the Kootenays help shape the work you do?
Without the Kootenays, I’m not sure Wildelore would exist. Prior to Nelson, I lived in Ontario and just wasn’t exposed to the lifestyle that I now have here. Discovering the beauty of the Kootenays throughout my pregnancy and nursing journey is really what prompted me to require outdoor gear that functioned for motherhood.
What’s the best part about living in the Kootenays?
The proximity to nature! Looking out my office window and seeing a wall of mountains is the perfect backdrop for my days at Wildelore, but also life in general. Being able to get into nature so quickly and easily is such a blessing. Also, the people and community here! So many folks get after it and it’s super inspiring to see all ages and stages exploring the outdoors. The community here has also been wonderful; especially KORE events and opportunities.
What are your favourite outdoor pursuits to do in the Kootenays? Where do you do them?
I find owning a company like this means my brain is always “on” and thinking about the business, so I really need an outlet to connect and refresh. For me, it’s hiking. As a family, we love going backcountry camping up Kokanee Glacier or Gwillim Lakes. We also love camping in more accessible places, too. The more time we can spend together outside, the happier we all are. Same goes with our daughter: if we can even just get to a park or go for a trail walk together, the days are smoother for sure.
What’s next for your company?
Developing more products and adding them to our offerings are our next big steps. We hope to be able to add three new products between next October 2024 and May 2025, so we are focusing a lot on them. Beyond that, we’re really honing in on how and where we reach our customers: we’re trying out some new advertising strategies and doing our best to reach as many women as we can. The more women we can get outdoors, the better off we all are.
For more about Carissa’s company Wildelore Clothing, visit her maker page: koreoutdoors.org/makers/wildelore.
