Our founder's story
Hi, I’m Casey Hande — founder and owner of KC Creek Apparel. I was raised on a small ranch seven miles outside the tiny town of Rhame, North Dakota. Growing up in the wide-open country shaped who I am. My childhood was filled with hunting, fishing, and rodeo through high school and college. Some of my greatest memories are walking the Badlands with my dad on my aunt and uncle’s place — learning patience, grit, and respect for the land.
As life moved on, my time outdoors became less frequent. In my 30s, I hunted here and there, but work, golf, and too many nights in a bar took priority. In May of 2017, I made the decision to quit drinking. I’ve been sober ever since.
Sobriety changed everything. It gave me clarity. It gave me discipline. Most importantly, it brought me back to my roots. Instead of sitting on a barstool, I found myself back where I belong — in the mountains, on the prairie, and under open skies. My passion for the outdoors reignited like wildfire.
To celebrate five years of sobriety, I treated myself to a mountain goat hunt — a challenge that required serious preparation. As I trained and gathered gear, everyone pushed wool base layers. There was just one problem: I’m allergic to wool. That left synthetic options, which never quite felt right. I discovered bamboo fabric along the way, but what was available was thin and lacked durability for true backcountry use.
That’s when the idea for KC Creek Apparel was born. The more I learned about bamboo and its natural properties — breathability, moisture-wicking, temperature regulation, and odor resistance — the more I became convinced it had the potential to be an outstanding base layer fabric. What if we could build something tough enough for hunters, ranchers, and outdoorsmen… but comfortable enough to wear all day?
KC Creek was created from that question.
This brand is rooted in second chances, hard country, and the belief that what you wear should work as hard as you do. Whether you’re horseback at daylight, glassing a ridge, casting into a quiet stream, or chasing elk through steep timber — you deserve gear that performs.
KC Creek Apparel is built for outdoor enthusiasts, by outdoor people. When you return to your roots, you come back stronger.
