OUR STORY
Our Story
What began in the mountains of North Carolina in the mid-2000s wasn’t a love for making outdoor apparel—it was a deep love for the outdoors. And to truly appreciate our company, you need to understand that.
Jamy grew up in Franklin, NC, and learned to play outside early in life—just like Mike, who was raised 100 miles away in Morganton. Neither of them knew their paths were careening toward each other, but when they finally met, it was clear they shared a bond rooted in adventure. By the time they started dating, each had racked up their share of outdoor feats and tall tales: teeth lost and found in the Grand Canyon, thru-hiking the Appalachian Trail, rec boating the Green River Narrows, or getting stranded at the put-in of the Stikine River in British Columbia.
After dating for nine months, they were married and living in a 400-square-foot fishing cabin on the bank of the Tuckasegee River. Eventually, Mike decided to join the military in 2020 and is still on active duty. Meanwhile, Jamy became a badass stay-at-home mom raising two even more badass kids.
The Birth of Mountains2Sea Apparel
Mountains2Sea Apparel was born during Mike’s paternity leave after the birth of their second child. Jamy asked him to make her a hoodie, as none of her clothes fit quite right during her postpartum recovery. Mike jumped in headfirst, crafting the first hoodie from Walmart fleece and whatever thread he could scrounge up.
Over the following months, Mike refined the process—sourcing better materials, finding the right sewing machines, and perfecting the fit. Meanwhile, Jamy secured business permits, mastered QuickBooks, and learned how to sew—from Mike.
We take pride in making gear we wish we had—durable, practical, and inspired by the wild places we love. We source materials as close to home as possible and build every piece with the same intention: to support real adventures by real people.
This is only the beginning of our story.
Take Your Hellbender Somewhere Cool
Don't forget to shout us out on social media and use #hellbendersinthewild—but more importantly, take your HELLBENDER somewhere epic.
Pictured below is the evolution of the Hellbender Hoodie. We will let you guess which one came first.