Beyond the Pitch Ep. 3 — Fresh Voices, Big Visions (Finalists Pt. 1)
This one’s a little different, in the best way. For Episode 3 of my Beyond the Pitch series with Title Nine, I pulled together a compilation featuring three 2025 Pitchfest finalists. Each of these women-led brands is creating what outdoor women have been asking for: gear that fits real bodies, design that works in motion, and values that go deeper than a sales floor tagline.
The throughline of this conversation? Fit that respects your body, design that doesn’t compromise, and founders who choose collaboration over competition.
The Problem With Fit in Outdoor Gear
For too long, outdoor apparel has forced women into one-size-fits-all molds. Thicket Adventure is tackling that head-on with hiking pants in sizes 14–30, designed in two different fits — Booty and Belly — to meet real body shapes. Their Brecken Pant went through more than 100 rounds of testing to make sure women don’t have to compromise comfort for performance on the trail.
This isn’t just about a pair of pants — it’s a challenge to an industry that has left plus-size adventurers out of the picture for far too long.
When Swimwear Meets Real Life
If you’ve ever had to choose between a flattering swimsuit and a functional one, you’ll understand why Saturday Swimwear exists. Their timeless, USA-made suits are built from regenerated materials and designed for women who move. Surfing, chasing toddlers, napping on the beach — these suits do it all without sacrificing comfort or sustainability.
Founder wisdom shines here too: design for the women who will live in your product, not just pose in it.
From Ski Gear to Everyday Bags
Birdie Blue takes a completely different angle — circularity. They’re upcycling ski and snow gear that would otherwise end up in landfills, and transforming it into personality-packed totes, fannies, slings, and kits. Thousands of garments have already been diverted, giving new life to old gear while reducing waste in an industry that has plenty of it.
It’s proof that sustainability doesn’t have to be boring — in fact, their bags carry the quirks and stories of the mountains they came from.
Lessons From the Founders’ Table
Across all three brands, the themes of this conversation stretched beyond product design:
Patience in the gray areas of growth
Taking advice without losing your voice
The power of collaboration over competition
Their bold visions overlap too: plus-size technical gear on every sales floor, swimwear that’s equal parts style + performance + sustainability, and millions more garments diverted from landfills.
These aren’t just products — they’re signals of where the outdoor industry needs to go.
Why You’ll Want to Hit Play
✅ Inclusive sizing that prioritizes performance
✅ The story behind Thicket’s Brecken Pant (100+ fit testers)
✅ Swimwear that works for real life, not just the catalog
✅ Circular design that actually keeps gear out of landfills
✅ Hard-won growth lessons every founder faces
✅ Big visions for a more inclusive, sustainable outdoor industry
Connect With the Finalists
• Thicket Adventure → thicketadventure.com | IG @thicketadventure
• Saturday Swimwear → saturdayswimwear.com | IG @saturdayswimwear
• Birdie Blue → shopbirdieblue.com | IG @shopbirdieblue
Stay Connected
• Follow the podcast: @tarin.it.up.podcast
• Subscribe for new episodes & founder spotlights: tarinitup.myflodesk.com/tarinitup
• ☕ Support the show: Buy Me a Beverage
About This Series
Beyond the Pitch is a special Tarin It Up series with Title Nine, celebrating women building what they wish existed — and inviting all of us to back brands that back us.