We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Brennah Strange a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Brennah thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Naming anything – including a business – is so hard. Right? What’s the story behind how you came up with the name of your brand?

My brand, Hookchute, is named after my favorite ski run. This run is wider y shaped bowl and the top that narrows into a chute at the bottom. I have had some of the deepest powder runs on this run, with my dad and friends accompanying me. I name all my clothing that I sell from the same ski area trail map, because it is my favorite place! I grew up skiing with my dad there every weekend!

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I am a 23 year old multidisciplinary design student at the University of Utah. I’ve been sewing since 4th grade, a skill I learned from my dad, and it’s been a passion ever since. I slowly moved from making pillows, to clothing, then to outdoor gear. I love to ski, trail run, camp, hike, bike, and anything that has to do with adventure. Today, I’m proud to say I run Hookchute as a one-woman team (although, I could not do it without the support from my family and friends), designing, crafting, and managing every aspect of the brand from my living room in Salt Lake City. Hookchute has been a slow growing project, as a full time student and while working another job, hookchute has been when ever I have the time. I have been designing under the name Hookchute for 4 years (doing fashion shows and collections) and just now launched into the market.

Hookchute does things a little different. Every piece is handmade by me and made to order, ensuring that each item is crafted with care and purpose. This not only makes every product special and unique to you, but it also helps reduce waste. My goal is to design gear that looks good, feels good, and works hard while being kind to the planet.

Hookchute isn’t just about the gear — it’s about building a community of like-minded folks who love getting outside and connecting. I host Hookchute run club once a month, either trail or fun destination road runs! I also participate in local fashion shows and have even hosted my own trail show. Hookchute trail show was the first of many, a unique outdoor fashion experience. The show included bikers and runners recreating on the runway in Hookchute clothing. The show featured live music from a local band during the runway. Hookchute trail show included four collections designed over the last three years. Guests were invited to bring camp chairs and was free to the public. I coordinated 27 models, 7 photographers, 4 hair and makeup artists and a local salt lake city band, to put on a beautiful show in the mountains of big cottonwood canyon.

Have any books or other resources had a big impact on you?

Profit first by Mike Michalowicz was the best finance book I have ever read and I recommend it to every entrepreneur out there. I think it works on a better on a small scale but it teaches you to be profitable out the bat as an entrepreneur. He writes it so that it is super approachable and easy to do. It is not traditional accounting but it makes so much sense once you learn it. Highly highly recommend.

Can you open up about how you funded your business?

As a full time college student there is so many funding opportunities for through universities. At my school they have Lassonde Entrepreneur Institute, a hub made for student entrepreneurs with tons of resources. I have also gone outside my design program and participated in things like the Doman Studio witch has helped me grow my company and meet other entrepreneurs. I have received grants from school and boot strapped the rest.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://hookchute.com
• Instagram: @hook.chute
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brennah-strange-160751207

Image Credits

Nico Savoia, William Reed