Announcement: Custom Orders may take 3-4 weeks to complete

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Our Story

Big Hollow Designs was founded in 2016 as a jewelry and apparel line and has since expanded to include a wide range of custom made gear and apparel.

WhatVest was born the same year around a campfire with close friends at a remote mountain music festival in Wyoming known as WhatFest.  Looking around our circle we recognized each of us were wearing some form of party vest and thought it a fine idea to start making party vests called “WhatVests” for musicians, music festivals goers, and fun mountain folks of all sorts.

We worked with Atmosphere Mountainworks of Laramie, WY developing our skills making heavier duty garments, river gear and bags, and with our love of skiing, the idea to take WhatVest from casual party gear to on-mountain utility was a natural progression.  Now, in its fourth winter season, WhatVests can be spotted on peaks and ski patrol units around the US and abroad.

Our Studio

At Big Hollow and WhatVest we create unique, high quality custom gear that inspires adventure and builds community around our shared love for the outdoors. We support environmental protections and value small scale, fair and sustainable operations. 

We design and sew all of our gear and apparel in-house at our studio in Laramie, Wyoming, USA. We are designers, master seamstresses, pattern makers, creators, and lovers of the outdoors.

Nadia Burton, CEO & Lead Designer

Nadia Burton was raised in the mountains of Colorado surrounded by art, soccer and skiing. After playing collegiate soccer at CU-Boulder she went on to ski professionally-both in park and big mountain- throughout her twenties based out of Jackson Hole, Wyoming. Her experience in the ski industry spans from athlete to cat ski guide to helping run base operations for heli ski operations in Alaska. Nadia has been designing, sewing and manufacturing goods since 2014 and runs her business splitting her time between Laramie, Wyoming and Steamboat Springs, Colorado. Watch Nadia skiing Alaska.

Nadia Burton owner CEO Lead Designer of Whatvest big hollow designs Laramie, WY steamboat springs, Colorado custom made ski apparel

Josh Burton, Co-Owner/Designer

Popping out of the womb wearing a PFD, Josh Burton was born and raised on the river. Both parents were raft guides based on the Nantahala River in Western North Carolina where Josh learned every water sport available and too has become a renowned river guide around the country. Josh takes on much of the Big Hollow and WhatVest marketing and social media tasks as well as manages the design of gear and apparel.

Jamie Lindsey, Assistant Manager

Jamie is a native to Laramie, Wyoming. She was raised with a profound appreciate for creative expression coupled with a love for the outdoors. Her intrigue in music and theater began at an early age, guiding her studies in theater and film to Los Angeles after high school. Eventually transitioning her focus from preforming arts to visual arts, she returned to the Great Plains and completed her Bachelor of Arts at the University of Wyoming with emphasis in photography, sculpture, and apparel design. After graduation, Big Hollow Designs became the perfect home for her married interests in apparel design and love for the mountains. In addition to creative development and outdoor recreation, she can be found enjoying the magical music scene of Red Rocks, traveling for festivals, supporting her Chicago Blackhawks, and enjoying every possible moment with her two kitties, Paisley and Baya. 

Erin Maloney, Master Seamstress

Erin Maloney is originally from Wisconsin, but fell in love with the Rocky Mountains. She now calls Laramie home where she has been sewing and designing outdoor clothing and gear for over 9 years. She enjoys trail running, camping, hiking, cross country skiing, and long walks on the beach. She frequently travels to Mexico and loves to go on adventures with her Chihuahua mix Skippy.

Christina Garner, Production Assistant

Christina is Wyoming native, originally from Casper. Growing up, she loved art and design, eventually going to college at the University of Northern Colorado for Theatre Design and Technology. She spent most of her time in college focusing on scenic design and carpentry, though she did dabble a little in costuming. Expanding and working on her sewing skills at Big Hollow Designs has been a truly wonderful experience! When not at work, Christina enjoys getting outside whether that means hiking, biking, kayaking, or just reading a book in a hammock. 

SUSTAINABILITY AND ETHICAL SOURCING

At Big Hollow Designs and WhatVest we are committed to reducing our carbon footprint and contributing to the betterment of our world as a whole. Annually we contribute five percent of our profits to environmental non-profit organizations. A portion of our technical fabrics are made from recycled plastic bottles and/or manufactured in the USA. We reuse and recycle materials in much of the creation of our custom apparel and jewelry whenever possible. We are close to achieving zero waste in our production fiber studio as all our fabric scraps are used to fill dog beds.

1% of our profits support:

Greenpeace, Natural Resources Defense Council, Environmental Defense Fund, Earthjustice, The Trust for Public Land, Protect Our Winters, The Ocean Conservancy, Wyoming Public Media and American Whitewater. 

Collaborations

Icelantic

T-Bar Steamboat

Protect Our Winters

Atmosphere Mountainworks

International Freeskiers Association (IFSA)

Colorado Avalanche Information Center (CAIC)

Sizing Charts

WhatVest Sizing Chart:

Please remember you will be wearing layers under your WhatVest. If you are on the cusp in sizing we recommend going up in size.  

2021-2022 WhatVest Sizing Chart:

 WHATVEST SIZE

HEIGHT/WEIGHT
Extra Small 4'9" - 5'5" / 90lbs - 145lbs
Small/Medium

5'4" - 5'10" /  120lbs - 190lbs
Large/Extra-Large

5'9 - 6'3"  /  170lbs - 230lbs

 
Custom WhatVest Sizing Chart:

 WHATVEST SIZE HEIGHT/WEIGHT
Extra Small 4'9" - 5'5" / 90lbs - 140lbs
Small 5'3 - 5'6" / 120lbs - 145lbs
Medium 5'6" - 5'9" / 145lbs - 180lbs
Large 5'9" - 6'1" / 180lbs - 225lbs
Extra Large 6' - 6'3" / 200lbs - 240lbs
Extra Extra Large Tall 6'4" - 6'6" / 230lbs - 260lbs


WhatVest Care Instructions:

River Skirt Sizing Chart:

 SKIRT SIZE WAIST MEASUREMENT HIP MEASUREMENT
2 22-26" 30-34"
4 26-28" 32-36"
6 26-30" 34-38"
8 27-32" 36-40"
10 28-34" 38-42"
12 29-36" 40-44"