“As people, we're becoming more and more disconnected from a lot that we do—what we consume, what we eat, what we wear. So it became important to me, if I'm going to make this clothing brand, it's not something that's fast, quick, done overseas. I want it to be very intentional. I want to tell the story of the people behind who made these pieces.”
—Gabe Patterson
By Hannah Truby
Tèmi (pronounced “TEM-ee,” meaning “mine” or “my own” in Yoruba) is an outdoor apparel brand with a mission to challenge the fatigue of mass-produced, overseas gear. Founded by Gabe Patterson, an outdoorsman with a doctorate in environmental chemistry, Tèmi blends technical expertise with a deep commitment to sustainability, small-batch production, and locally made craftsmanship.
Every Tèmi garment—from the flagship alpine/urban down hoody to pieces now in development—is cut and sewn in San Leandro, California, then distributed through curated Bay Area pop-ups and select retailers, intentionally keeping the brand close to its community. Careful thought goes into the materials, including recovered, upcycled, or natural components, that result in products that are both high-performance and meaningful.
Patterson’s story is as intentional as his designs. Growing up in Santa Fe, New Mexico, “living the life of a western cowboy,” he discovered climbing and telemark skiing at Colorado College—experiences he describes as both meditative and defining. As a Black adventurer navigating predominantly white outdoor and academic spaces, Patterson has long been committed to representation and access, founding Soul Ascension Crew in 2018 for people of color in climbing and environmental stewardship, and serving as a We Got Next ambassador.
We sat down with Patterson to talk about his personal journey, the ethos behind Tèmi, the Kickstarter success of the Down Anorak Hoody, and how his lifelong love for outdoor adventure–in all its forms–informs every stitch of his brand.
Hannah Truby: Let’s start at the beginning. How did your personal journey—growing up in Santa Fe, going to school for chemistry, discovering climbing and skiing, and relocating to the Bay—lead you to create Tèmi?
Gabe Patterson: I am a scientist by training—I got my Ph.D. in chemistry—and so I bring my science background into the company with the materials used in all of the garments. So part of the storytelling and the brand ethos is to be very intentional with how the jackets are made, where they're made, and who made them.
With Tèmi, there's this idea of people, place, and product. It's kind of what brings everything together. For example,using natural rubber as the elastic material in the sleeve cuffs, as opposed to typical elastic from petroleum—and then using recycled content where possible. The down fill comes from this duck that's a food industry byproduct. A lot of what I studied specifically in chemistry was industrial waste products: how can you recover them, extract the useful materials, and apply them in real world applications like a recovered, upcycled material.
HT: You did all of this in 2025. Why did this feel like the right time personally, or culturally, or in retail, to start a brand like this?
GP: Life is funny. I've always had an entrepreneurial spirit. I think it was a matter of time until I found something that clicked. I was in a relationship that ended in 2023, and we got a dog, who I [later] named the brand after. We broke up. I kept the dog. And I think this grief, combined with my science background and interest in design and entrepreneurship, kind of all culminated into, “Oh, what if I start a clothing brand that's named after the dog that has this unique story to the name?” And so it kind of just all these things came together.
HT: There's really nothing like a passion project like to get you through grief and transition!
You've described Tèmi as a response to the fatigue of mass-produced, impersonal outdoor gear. What did that fatigue look like to you personally? What did you want to do differently, besides using upcycled materials?
GP: As people, we're becoming more and more disconnected from a lot that we do—what we consume, what we eat, what we wear. So it became important to me, if I'm going to make this clothing brand, it's not something that's fast, quick, done overseas. I want it to be very intentional. I want to tell the story of the people behind who made these pieces.
I did a lot of behind-the-scenes video work on social media and YouTube showing the hands, like everything that we're wearing, someone sat there and sewed these pieces together. That's the people part—supporting the local economy, highlighting the local craft folks that make these pieces. That’s the people side.
For place.. I feel like there’s a culture in California: People care about that story, and that impact, and climate, and reducing the carbon footprint of our daily life. From what I understand, the largest carbon footprint of what we wear is actually the transportation from factory to consumer. So while I am using imported fabrics, the piece, because it's made here, its final travel to the customer is like 20 miles, 30 miles, or 100 miles—not several thousand miles coming from Vietnam or wherever else.
And as for the product, it’s a premium product. I want people to feel connected to what they're wearing. And so that's tied into the name. I'm personally connected to it, and it's not like a quick $50 jacket from REI. When we buy cheap, or when we don't have a connection to it, the garment's lifetime is much shorter.
HT: Can you walk us through the flagship Down Anorak Hoody? What were you trying to solve or express with this piece, both functionally and aesthetically?
GP: To make a debut piece, to differentiate from what everyone else is doing. Aesthetically, stylistically, what's different from what we see. Most everything we wear has that opening right up the middle—zipper, button. By making it a hoodie, an anorak, that was something different.
Then from there, I didn't want to take shortcuts. The down fill power, the materials used—I'm using the same premium fabrics as all the big players—Arc’teryx, Patagonia—because I work with Western Mountaineering. Their fabric quality is super high. No shortcuts. It’s expensive to make stuff in the States, to pay California minimum wage to local craft folks. So this jacket costs $200 for fabrics, labor, everything. Originally, I thought about selling to REI, but I can't compete with Patagonia or Arc’teryx because of overseas labor costs. That puts me in a premium category because of where it's made and what it's made with.
HT: The Kickstarter campaign has generated a ton of support already. What has it meant to you to see the community rally around this product?
GP: It turned out to be a lot of friends and family, typical of first-round funding. Some were new people who found me through Kickstarter or social media ads. Everyone will have the jacket—the average price was $275, and it cost me $200. This wasn't so much about making money, but getting the name out, getting ambassadors, and people getting a premium jacket at a discounted price.
I can't say who specifically yet because we want to do a more formal announcement, but in Tahoe City there is a premium retail store that sells outdoor gear, and they're gonna carry 24 of these jackets come mid-January.
HT: So exciting. And how does the current momentum shape the next steps for you? What does 2026 look like?
GP: My goal for 2025 was: Can I do it? Originally the goal was 50 jackets which turned into 120. People are drawn in, approaching me on their own, wanting to help with branding, logos—people resonate with the story and the need for deeper connection to what we wear. That sets me up for 2026, with hopefully new products that maintain the story of people, place, and product, centering on materials. As a scientist, I want to continue centering on what’s used to make the garment: recycled cotton, durable water repellent finishes, all made intentionally by local people.
And I really want to keep this local. My goal is to remain a small- to mid-scale operation that never goes overseas.
HT: We're a publication that celebrates the outdoors in all its variations and all the ways people experience it. How have the outdoors—your experiences in it, your perspective on representation in those spaces—shaped the brand's identity?
GP: I love that you asked that because, the working brand slogan is “What’s your adventure?” I've been skiing since I was a kid, climbing for nearly two decades, spending a lot of time outdoors. Living near Tahoe, there's so much emphasis on vertical feet and mileage. That's legit, but it can take away from asking, “Why are you really out here? What’s your adventure?” Your adventure could be scaling El Cap, skiing in the Eastern Sierras, or just walking your kids. All adventure matters. It doesn’t have to be extreme. Accessibility matters. Shooting hoops in Berkeley or Oakland is as much outside as backcountry skiing in Tahoe. That’s the idea behind the slogan.
HT: Looking ahead, what do you hope Tèmi ultimately accomplishes—in retail and beyond—within outdoor and creative communities?
GP: There are very few Black-owned outdoor apparel brands, especially in the down space. I want to focus on insulated garments, giving Patagonia a run for their money in terms of sustainability. Patagonia manufactures overseas, trying to reduce garments ending up in landfills. I aim to do the same by telling the story of how it’s made, doing it locally, doing it well, not taking shortcuts, and not using cheap materials. That’s the big picture.
HT: Anything else you’d like to add, or flag for readers?
GP: The company is young—less than a year. There’s a lot of space for improvement or development. I’m a one-person team, so if people feel inspired to get involved, there’s space to contribute, give suggestions, or help improve the brand. That’s been important, the community part.
HT: Awesome. I’ll link to your Instagram and email so readers can follow along or reach out.
GP: Please do.
Questions, ideas, or interest in Tèmi? Contact Gabe Patterson at gabe@temiwear.com
