Packing Boxes, Building Bridges: What a Year in Portland Taught Us
Looking around our studio surrounded by flat packed cardboard boxes and rolls of packing tape, time feels a little surreal.
When we first arrived in Portland, we told ourselves the city was an intentional waypoint. A dedicated season to immerse ourselves in functional sportswear design, learn from mentors who know the craft inside and out, and build relationships that would anchor our foundation. But now that the year has wound down and our studio is packed, the reality of what took place here is really hitting home. We didn’t just pass through Portland, we found our footing here.
A Chance Stop at Kinship That Opened Every Door
So much of our momentum can be traced back to an afternoon stop at Kinship and a conversation with its founder, Gaia.
Kinship is a creative haven, outfitted with industrial grade sewing machines and specialized equipment that give emerging designers access to production capabilities they could never fit into a home apartment. But Gaia’s real gift wasn't just the space, it was her generosity. In an industry where people can fall into gatekeeping, protecting contacts out of fear, Gaia did the exact opposite. She opened her network without hesitation.
That single meeting set off a domino effect. Through Gaia, we connected with mentors, fellow apparel builders, the Sports Bra Doctor, and academic researchers whose guidance helped us strip away distractions and focus entirely on engineering support and comfort for real bodies.
Learning the Craft from the Ground Up
Looking back through our blog updates over the past twelve months, Portland became our hands on workshop:
Wrestling with the basics: Bringing home our trusty Singer 4452 Heavy Duty machine to sew at all hours, working through jammed bobbins, and discovering through our raw V0.1 prototypes just how technical athletic construction really is.
Taking our questions to the experts: Sprinting through Texworld and the Functional Fabric Fair, meeting with innovative teams like Rheon Labs to explore smart material straps, and traveling to Knitwear Lab in Almere to watch digital sketches turn into 3D knitted swatches in minutes.
Designing with the next generation: Collaborating with local university students and recent grads right here in Portland on the "Rising Mover" project. Watching fresh perspectives solve friction points for young athletes across the field, court, and mat.
Through every stitch we ripped out, we stopped feeling like people standing on the outside looking in. We were doing the work.
Upstart Collective: Our Creative Anchor
Building something from scratch is an incredible journey, but founder fatigue is very real. Stepping into Upstart Collective and connecting with one of the founders, Josh, was easily one of the best decisions we made while living in the Rose City. He has built an environment that feels like an instant battery recharge every time you walk through the doors. Whenever we got too deep in the weeds, overthinking design tensions or running into founder self-doubt. The space provided perspective, grounding, and genuine camaraderie. Thanks to Josh and that community, we found ourselves surrounded by brilliant, generous entrepreneurs whom we now proudly call dear friends.
Reframing the Pauses & Looking Forward
Not every week went smoothly. When we hit unexpected friction with a prototyping partner, it forced an immediate pause. Instead of rushing, we cracked open design school textile textbooks, studied fabric tension and yarn composition like full time students, and evaluated new partners who share our values. Every pause taught us what we truly expect from our garments: uncompromising comfort, thoughtful design, and honest construction.
2026 was the year our concepts transformed into tangible reality. Packing up and saying goodbye to Portland is bittersweet, but we are moving forward into this next chapter energized. We are officially stepping into the next phase of physical prototyping and manufacturing preparation for our upcoming launches.
To Gaia, Josh, our mentors, and everyone who shared coffee with us or cheered us on from afar. Thank you for welcoming us, guiding us, and shaping sunday+ alongside us.
We’d love to know: Looking back on your own journey, what’s one city, space, or community connection that completely shifted your perspective?
More soon+
Warmly,
Alex+Kasey