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Sisterhood in every step
Meet the outdoor founder of ToughCutie.
Fresh off a weekend camping trip and right after another afternoon meeting, Brittany Coleman and I jumped on a call. Brittany Coleman is the founder of ToughCutie, a premium sock brand inspired by her experiences in the outdoors and the apparel industry. She is also part of Founded Outdoors, a community for outdoor entrepreneurs, where she’s received a ton of support on her journey in building this brand.
We are an outdoor brand. We're one of the less than 1% of outdoor brands own or led by people of color in this country.

For many, natural playgrounds were the backdrop of our youth—a time when adventure was defined not by gear, but by imagination. As we grow older, something peculiar happens: nature feels like it's behind an invisible velvet rope, guarded by the gatekeepers of the outdoor world. The vast expanse of nature seems endless, yet the industry around it can feel as exclusive as an elite nightclub. The truth is, nature doesn’t care if you've got on a name-brand vest. The joy of discovering a new trail, watching a sunrise, or simply lounging on a sandy beach is an experience that transcends socioeconomic barriers.
Most of us have been outside just climbing trees, playing tag, going…to the park, the beach. But the outdoor industry, I feel like, it can be closed off in some ways. It can be feel somewhat gate kept, and I think that's probably why a lot of people haven't felt like starting a business, let alone even doing some of these activities is for them because you just don't see a lot of people necessarily in leadership.
Brittany used her experience in the apparel industry to create the company she wanted to see serving women adventurers. She shared how intentional she still is as a founder about prioritizing time away from screens and more time in nature. The only thing missing from our conversation is the other 25 minutes we continued talking after I stopped recording. I promise, there’s so much goodness in this episode you won’t want to miss.
In the words of Brittany, “We're tough, we're cute and make the best damn hiking socks around.” Check out our episode and her sock company for your next run, bike ride, or hike!
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