When Beth Brownlee, former Director of Apparel Sales for Columbia Sportswear was diagnosed with breast cancer, she never thought it would lead to launching her own brand just a few years later.
This month, Brownlee and her business partner, Ruth Nichols, also a former Columbia executive, have introduced Trust Your Journey, an inspirational and eco-friendly apparel line.
The company was conceived during Brownlee's chemotherapy treatments when a friend told her to "trust your journey."
"When I heard those words, it just hit me, 'You can beat this awful cancer, Beth, you just need to believe in this and have the courage to stay positive,' I said to myself. I knew at that point I would heal and one day give this inspiration back," says Brownlee.
Nichols is no stranger to adversity either. As Brownlee battled cancer, Nichols struggled with the declining health (and eventual death) of her husband and the birth of their only child.
Both women have many years of experience in the sporting goods industry at Columbia as well as Nike, Asics, Hind and Woolrich. Trust Your Journey reflects the two women's love of the outdoors and belief in sustainability.
Each product displays their logo; a heart with a spiral labyrinth inside that signifies love and a path from beginning to end. Products include 100% organic cotton t-shirts, fleece, hats and bags printed with water-based inks as well as recycled seed paper journals and handmade jewelry.
"I want to let women know that they are not alone in their fight. Sometimes it's little things that inspire us to overcome obstacles, great or small. Trust Your Journey celebrates all women and wants to support them," Brownlee said.
Trust Your Journey's website is currently serving as their storefront. The website details both Brownlee and Nichol's stories with personal photos and reflections. Customers are encouraged to pass along their personal stories of their hardships and triumph.
Trust Your Journey
