Why I started Sola

I wasn't satisfied with the athletic apparel I was wearing. 

That was the beginning of Sola.

Where it started

I wanted clothing that felt comfortable, breathable, odor-resistant, and made from natural fibers. I kept thinking about how much goes into something as ordinary as the clothes we wear: the design, the materials, the testing, the construction, the fit, and all the small decisions that affect how they feel throughout the day.

I wanted those decisions to have a reason.

At the same time, Sola was never only about making clothes. I wanted to build something lasting for my family and create a company that could serve people well. My family gave me a reason to begin, and they continue to give me a reason not to give up when the process feels slow or uncertain.

Building with faith at the center

My faith is part of that, too.

I want to keep God at the center of how this company is built. That includes the way we develop products with intention, share information, work with people, and respond when something doesn't go as planned.

I know it is easy for a company to talk about its values. The harder part is making decisions that consistently reflect them.

Sola is still at the beginning, and I don't have every answer figured out.

Starting with one product

Our first product is a running hat designed for active, everyday use. We received our first prototype and are now testing it to meet our standards and make necessary revisions.

We are thinking carefully about comfort, materials, construction, and the details that make a product genuinely useful. If something doesn't improve how the hat fits, feels, or works, it shouldn't be there.

We are also working with a corporation to replace expensive certifications with primary data, real stories, and environmental and social evidence told by the people doing the work. Meaning, we want to give you the who, what, where, and why of the final product.

Why this journal exists

That is part of why this journal exists.

I want to share the process while Sola is being built: the progress, the changes, the lessons, and probably mistakes along the way. Building a company and developing a product takes time. I don't want to hide that process behind a finished-looking brand.

If you are interested in thoughtful apparel, design, product development, materials, or simply following a company from its beginning, I would be glad to have you here.

You can continue following the process in the Sola Journal.

This is only the first entry. There is more work ahead.

Chase What Matters.

- Caín