This retailer is on a mission to bring more women to the mountains, especially the outdoors.

Olympian-founded and woman-owned outdoor apparel retailer Halfdays opened its first brick-and-mortar store in Denver’s RiNo neighborhood on Wednesday morning.

The store, 2609 Walnut St., will offer an extensive selection of outdoor apparel, including its new Winter 2024 collection, which features snow jackets, insulated ski sets, wool and bamboo base layers, as well as accessories like beanies, socks and neck warmers.

“We started Halfdays with the mission to introduce more women to the outdoors, and our hope is that our retail space creates a welcoming environment where customers can have fun while finding the perfect fit,” said Halfdays co-founder and former Olympic Skier Kiley McKinnon in a news release.

“Our flagship store is an opportunity for us to tell our brand story and create a space where our community can connect with us in person. We’re excited to continue hosting our monthly community events and bring that energy to our retail location with fun activations.”

Until the store opening, Halfdays had been selling its products online and in stores such as Nordstrom, REI and Bloomingdale’s.

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The 1,689-square-foot retail location was designed by Toronto-based designers, Reflect Architecture, in partnership with Denver-based architects and sustainable design experts GMSHAY and commercial builder Ellipsis Construction. The signature Halfdays Butter Yellow space features modern furniture and wooden finishes.

Founded in the fall of 2020, the Colorado-based retailer was created to offer women a better option for ski apparel after McKinnon competed in men’s ski wear at the 2018 Winter Olympics, according to their website.

Frustrated by the lack of gear designed for women’s bodies, McKinnon teamed up with co-founders Ariana Ferwerda and Karelle Golda to disrupt the male-dominated outdoor industry.

Crafted from recycled, technical materials, their women-first approach prioritizes not only fashion but functionality and a great fit.  What started with ski wear has evolved into a year-round outdoor apparel brand for women, designed for all mountain activities.

“Our first pop-up in Aspen, just two months after launching, was a game-changer for us. It was the first time we saw how powerful it is for people to interact with the product in person and feel the quality firsthand,” said Ferwerda, Halfdays CEO.

“That experience really opened our eyes to the impact of having a physical presence. As we’ve expanded into trail and everyday outdoor performance fashion, the launch of our retail location couldn’t come at a better time.”

The outdoor-wear retailer has also partnered with Huckleberry Coffee Roasters. All seven Huckleberry locations in Denver will feature Halfdays Yellow co-branded cups and visitors can enjoy a special signature beverage for the week called “the Halfdays Après Latte.”

The store’s operating hours are from 10 a.m .to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday and from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday.

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