Desert Rat Designs

As a vertically challenged individual I have always struggled to find gear that fit right or functioned how I hoped. After a long season working wildland fires in clothes that were ten times too large wearing gear that weighed half of what I do, I finally bought a sewing machine. I was going to fix everything. Soon I was staying up to 3 a.m. every morning hooked on creating, failing, and remaking all manner of projects. After three months I landed a job sewing full time for an outdoor gear company in Grand Junction. While there, I was mentored by an incredibly skilled group of seamstresses. They were a fantastic source of knowledge, encouragement, and inspiration. After landing a full time position with the Forest Service and continuing to pursue adventures in the desert year-round, I made my first Hoodieclava: the perfect layer for that cold desert chill. The Hoodieclava became an everyday piece of clothing for me and after six prototypes I started selling them to friends under the moniker Desert Rat Designs. A year and a half later we are still figuring it all out, but most importantly we continue to be inspired by the people we meet and the places we go.