Outdoor Voices

Outdoor Voices is an American athletic-apparel company founded in 2013 by Tyler Haney and Matt McIntyre. The founders met while studying at Parsons School of Design and initially developed the brand in New York City around a less performance-driven view of exercise. Instead of presenting sport exclusively as intense competition or elite training, Outdoor Voices promoted everyday movement, recreation, and social activity through the phrase “Doing Things.” Its apparel was designed to bridge exercise and ordinary life, with products such as leggings, shorts, sweatshirts, technical tops, and accessories positioned for activities including running, hiking, walking, yoga, and casual wear. The company gained early retail visibility after its line was featured by the London boutique Garbstore and subsequently selected by J. Crew for its “Brands We Love” sections in early 2014. Outdoor Voices opened its first store in Austin in October 2014 and followed with a Manhattan pop-up in 2015. In its early retail model, the brand was known for “kits”: coordinated groups of tops and bottoms that could be mixed and matched and purchased as a bundle. This helped communicate the company’s visual identity while encouraging customers to build complete recreational wardrobes. Outdoor Voices raised venture funding during its expansion, including investment associated with General Catalyst Partners, GV, and Forerunner Ventures. The company reported more than $9.5 million in early investment and approximately $57 million in total funding by March 2018, according to contemporary reference material. In 2016, Haney moved the company’s headquarters from New York to Austin, Texas, where Outdoor Voices sought to build a larger headquarters and expand its workforce. Mickey Drexler, the former chief executive of Gap and J. Crew, became chairman of the board in 2017. The brand broadened its product and partnership portfolio during the late 2010s. In 2018 it introduced a running collection developed with Hoka One One, supported by the O.V. Trail Shop app, and launched its first swimwear line, H2Ov. It also produced limited-run collaborations with Man Repeller, ClassPass, and French fashion label A.P.C. These initiatives extended Outdoor Voices beyond its initial lifestyle-athleisure base while retaining its emphasis on comfortable, versatile clothing. The company later experienced leadership instability and financial pressure. Haney stepped down as chief executive in February 2020 during a restructuring, while several executives departed. Reporting at the time described internal conflict involving Haney and chairman Mickey Drexler, as well as a sharp decline in the company’s valuation from its 2018 level. Outdoor Voices also indicated that it would make additional layoffs. In March 2024, the company announced that its stores would close and that it would operate online only. Former employees subsequently said the company was preparing for a Chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganization, although the supplied reference does not establish the final legal outcome. Outdoor Voices’ current operating status therefore requires verification.

Outdoor Voices was established in 2013 in New York City by Tyler Haney and Matt McIntyre, who met while studying at Parsons School of Design. Haney’s interest in sports and athletics informed the company’s founding concept: exercise could be part of ordinary life rather than an activity reserved for highly trained competitors. The resulting brand used the phrase “Doing Things” to frame movement as approachable, social, and enjoyable. The company received an early retail boost when its products appeared at the London boutique Garbstore. In early 2014, J. Crew selected the label for its “Brands We Love” areas, giving the young company exposure beyond its direct channels. Outdoor Voices opened its first store in Austin in October 2014 and operated a Manhattan pop-up the following year. Its initial merchandising approach centered on kits, coordinated combinations of tops and bottoms that customers could mix and match for a bundled price. McIntyre left the company in 2014. Outdoor Voices continued to raise outside capital, including a reported $7.5 million investment in 2015 to support development of its active-apparel business. In 2016, Haney relocated the company from New York to Austin, Texas, seeking a larger headquarters and a broader employee base. The Austin move became an important part of the brand’s identity and operating structure. By March 2018, reference material stated that the company had raised approximately $57 million, with GV, General Catalyst Partners, and Forerunner Ventures among its lead investors. Mickey Drexler, a prominent retail executive and former leader of Gap and J. Crew, joined as chairman in summer 2017. Outdoor Voices expanded its assortment and partnerships in 2018. On April 24, it introduced a running collection with Hoka One One and released the O.V. Trail Shop app, which helped users locate stores carrying the collection. The company also launched H2Ov, its first swimwear collection. Other limited-run partnerships involved Man Repeller, ClassPass, and A.P.C., allowing the brand to connect with fashion, fitness, and lifestyle audiences. The company entered a difficult period around 2020. Haney stepped down as CEO in February as part of a restructuring, and multiple executives left. An anonymous employee letter criticized Haney’s leadership and associated her management with staff departures. Contemporary reporting also described tensions between Haney and Drexler. By March, the company was characterized as having suffered a severe organizational breakdown, while its reported valuation had declined from about $110 million in 2018 to $40 million in January 2020. Outdoor Voices indicated that it would conduct a further 15 layoffs. In March 2024, Outdoor Voices announced that its physical stores would close and that the company would continue as an online-only business. On March 21, former employees said the company was preparing to pursue Chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganization in the following weeks. The reference material does not establish whether a petition was ultimately filed, whether a restructuring was completed, or what ownership and operations currently look like. The brand’s present status therefore remains unresolved and should be checked against current corporate and court records.

• 2024

  Retail stores are slated to close

  [1]Outdoor Voicesen.wikipedia.org

  The company announces a move to an online-only operating model; former employees later report a possible Chapter 11 restructuring.

• 2020

  CEO transition and restructuring

  [1]Outdoor Voicesen.wikipedia.org

  Tyler Haney steps down as CEO amid executive departures, internal conflict, valuation pressure, and planned layoffs.

• 2018

  Running and swimwear expansion

  [1]Outdoor Voicesen.wikipedia.org

  Outdoor Voices launches a Hoka One One running collection and introduces its H2Ov swimwear line.

• 2017

  Mickey Drexler becomes chairman

  [1]Outdoor Voicesen.wikipedia.org

  Former Gap and J. Crew chief executive Mickey Drexler becomes chairman of the board.

• 2016

  Headquarters move to Austin

  [1]Outdoor Voicesen.wikipedia.org

  The company relocates its headquarters from New York to Austin, Texas, to support expansion.

• 2014

  Early retail recognition and first store

  [1]Outdoor Voicesen.wikipedia.org

  J. Crew features the brand in its “Brands We Love” sections, and Outdoor Voices opens its first store in Austin.

• 2013

  Outdoor Voices is founded

  [1]Outdoor Voicesen.wikipedia.org

  Tyler Haney and Matt McIntyre co-found the athletic-apparel company in New York City.

Accessible, design-led athleisure and recreational sportswear for everyday movement, emphasizing comfort, versatility, and participation over elite athletic performance.

• Technical athletic apparel

  TechSweat

  TechSweat is one of Outdoor Voices’ signature performance-oriented lines. It is associated with technical fabrics and garments intended for exercise while retaining the brand’s understated, everyday styling. The range helped establish the company’s bridge between recreational sport and lifestyle apparel.

• Soft athleisure apparel

  CloudKnit

  CloudKnit is a comfort-focused collection positioned around soft, lightweight materials and relaxed wear. It represents Outdoor Voices’ emphasis on clothing that can function across low-intensity exercise, travel, leisure, and daily use.

• Swimwear · 2018

  H2Ov

  H2Ov was Outdoor Voices’ first swimwear collection, launched in 2018. The line expanded the brand beyond land-based training and supported its broader positioning around recreational activity and versatile lifestyle dressing.

• Running apparel · 2018

  Hoka One One running collection

  Introduced in partnership with Hoka One One in 2018, this collection marked a more explicit entry into running. It was supported by the O.V. Trail Shop app, which directed customers to locations where the range could be found.

• Coordinated apparel bundles

  Outdoor Voices kits

  Kits were an early merchandising format consisting of coordinated tops and bottoms that could be mixed and matched and sold at a bundled price. The format made the brand’s color coordination and complete-outfit concept central to its early retail presentation.

• 2020

  Leadership conflict and executive departures

  During a 2020 restructuring, an anonymous employee letter criticized Tyler Haney’s leadership and linked it to staff departures. Reporting also described difficulties in the relationship between Haney and chairman Mickey Drexler. Haney left the CEO position and several executives departed.

  Source

Read more

• 2018Hoka One One running collaboration

  United States

  Outdoor Voices and Hoka One One introduced a running collection, supported by the O.V. Trail Shop app and retail-location discovery.

  Outcome. The collaboration broadened Outdoor Voices’ visibility in running while connecting digital discovery with physical retail.

  Source
• Doing Things

  United States · International

  Outdoor Voices built its brand platform around “Doing Things,” a phrase that presents exercise as approachable recreation and everyday movement rather than elite athletic competition.

  Outcome. The phrase became closely associated with the company’s identity and differentiated its athleisure proposition.

  Source

• 2024

  Transition to an online-only modelStrategy

  Background

  The company faced renewed financial and operating pressure after earlier restructuring efforts.

  Action taken

  Outdoor Voices announced that all stores would close and that the company would operate online only.

  Aftermath

  Former employees subsequently reported that the company was preparing for Chapter 11 reorganization, but the final legal outcome is not established by the supplied material.

  Source

• 2020

  Restructuring and CEO transitionStrategy

  Background

  The company faced executive departures, internal conflict, valuation pressure, and operating challenges.

  Action taken

  Tyler Haney stepped down as CEO, and the company announced additional layoffs as part of its restructuring.

  Aftermath

  The restructuring period was followed by continued uncertainty over leadership, valuation, and the company’s long-term viability.

  Reported company valuation. $110 million → $40 million (2018 valuation compared with January 2020 valuation)

  Source

• 2018

  Launch of running collection with Hoka One OneProduct launch

  Background

  Outdoor Voices aimed to extend its recreational apparel offer into running.

  Action taken

  The company launched a co-developed running collection and the O.V. Trail Shop app.

  Aftermath

  The initiative expanded the brand’s running presence and linked customers with participating Trail Shop locations.

  Source

• 2018

  Introduction of H2Ov swimwearProduct launch

  Background

  The brand sought to expand beyond its established apparel categories.

  Action taken

  Outdoor Voices launched its first swimwear collection, H2Ov.

  Aftermath

  The launch broadened the company’s activity-based product portfolio.

  Source

• 2016

  Move headquarters from New York to AustinStrategy

  Background

  The company sought a larger headquarters and additional employees as it expanded its operations.

  Action taken

  Tyler Haney moved Outdoor Voices’ headquarters to Austin, Texas.

  Aftermath

  Austin became the company’s stated headquarters and an important base for its subsequent growth.

  Source

1. 1Outdoor Voicesen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Outdoor Voices official websiteoutdoorvoices.com