In Part 1 of this two-part conversation, Rebecca Babicz joins Kelly Mazanti, founder of Buttnski, a women-led outdoor apparel brand that’s all about warm butts, cold mountains, and gear that actually fits. What started as a funny family nickname and a pair of vintage fleece shorts from the 80s turned into a brand that’s rewriting what it means to dress for the outdoors—without compromising comfort, confidence, or performance.

Kelly shares the hilarious and heartfelt backstory of how she went from being a ballerina and brand strategist to bootstrapping an outdoor company from the ground up—with zero apparel background, a lot of trial and error, and one very loyal fleece-wearing mom.

This episode is packed with gold for anyone who's building something real and scrappy—and wants to hear what that actually looks like behind the scenes.

Listen Now:

Apple

Spotify

What We Talk About in Part One:

• The Buttnski origin story: How Kelly’s mom’s fleece shorts (and her no-nonsense attitude) led to the name and concept

• Growing up skiing in garbage bags and how that upbringing shaped her values around comfort and style outdoors

• The challenge of balancing mountain lifestyle meets streetwear aesthetic

• Why she was frustrated by the “hiker bro” look dominating mountain towns—and how that inspired her to create something different

• How her brand strategy background helped... and how it didn’t

• The wild learning curve of starting a product company with zero manufacturing experience (like literally calling sheep farms to source wool)

• What happened when her first prototypes showed up and were comically bad

• The unexpected success of her puffy jogger (which started out as a bulky fleece knicker)

• Why fit matters more than anything, especially for women in outdoor gear

• The “learning tax” she paid in fabric sourcing, product sampling, and manufacturing

• The reality of bootstrapping and why she’s ready to stop doing it all herself

Quotables: 

“If your butt is cold, your day is ruined. Period.”
“I thought I had to go to sheep farms in Colorado to source wool… turns out, not how it works.”
“I got tired of dressing like I was about to go on a hike 24/7.”
“You can either work in your business or on your business. Doing both will break you.”
“We’re not just making fleece shorts. We’re making people feel more like themselves outside.”

Kelly’s Après Moment:

After one of the hardest years of her life, Kelly reflects on what she’s proud of:

“I got back on my feet… and I’m building a life I love.”
And honestly? That’s the vibe we all needed to hear.

Shop & Support:

• Use code PRO30 at buttnski.com for 30% off while supplies last

• Follow them on IG: @buttnski

• Tag them when you’re out doing cool sh*t in the mountains

• If this episode resonated, please share it with a fellow founder or outdoor lover who needs a hit of inspiration

Where to Find Buttnski

• Website: https://buttnski.com

• Instagram: @buttnski