10 years of building a legacy | Our Mission Founder Story

by Beth Haynes

 

Different seasons. Different names. One story God has been writing all along.

Ten years ago, we started a business without knowing where it would lead. We've changed niches, evolved our brand, navigated seasons of uncertainty, and learned lessons we couldn't have learned any other way.

But three years ago, something began to shift. We started looking beyond what we could build as a business and asking what we could build for something bigger than ourselves.

That question changed everything.

Welcome to Risen West.

Ten Years in the Making

Our story didn't start with Risen West.

It started with a dream, a family, and a willingness to figure things out as we went.

As a fashion design graduate, mom, and military wife, I wanted to build something of my own that could grow alongside our family, no matter where life took us. What began as a small business built around our family table went through different niches, brand changes, and seasons of learning.

Some chapters looked nothing like the business we run today. We tried new things, made mistakes, started over, and kept growing.

Eventually, we found our way into a love for boho western hats that I always had, and what began as a small operation grew into a wholesale business serving retailers across the country.

Looking back, we can see how every chapter played a part in getting us here. Even the seasons that felt uncertain were teaching us something.

We didn't have the whole picture ten years ago. We were simply taking the next step.

Three Years That Changed Our Why

About three years ago, our mission began to take shape in a much deeper way.

Our faith had always been part of our lives, but we started to see our business differently. We began asking ourselves what it would look like to build something that extended beyond products, sales, and growth.

What if the business we'd spent years building could also become a way to serve others, share our faith, and make a difference in the world?

That question became the foundation of a new season.

We realized we didn't just want to build a successful brand. We wanted to be intentional about what we were building, who we were serving, and the purpose behind it all.

Our definition of success started changing. It wasn't only about how far we could grow, but about what that growth could make possible.

And that is the heart behind Risen West.

Why Risen West?

Risen West represents redemption, new beginnings, and the beauty of what God can bring out of seasons we never expected.

The name is new, but the story behind it has been in the making for years.

After building Wilder & Soul, we felt called into a new chapter that more clearly reflected our faith and the purpose we wanted our business to carry. Risen West lets us bring our love for western style together with the deeper mission that has shaped us over the past three years.

We're not starting over. We're building on everything that brought us here.

The lessons, the long days, the pivots, the relationships, and the growth have all become part of our foundation.

Our commitment to quality and the people who support us remains the same. What we're building now simply tells more of our story. 

Built by Family. Led by Faith.

Risen West is a family-owned, veteran-owned business built through years of hard work, sacrifice, and faith.

Behind every order, every new design, and every season of growth is a family that has learned to keep showing up, even when the next step isn't always clear.

We've experienced firsthand that building a business comes with both beautiful seasons and difficult ones. Our faith has shaped how we walk through both, reminding us that our identity and purpose are bigger than what we accomplish.

We believe God can use the things He's placed in our hands to serve others and point people toward Him.

That's why our mission matters so much to us. We want Risen West to be a reflection of what we believe, not just what we sell.

A Crown With a Purpose

We love western hats. We love the craftsmanship, the character, and the confidence that comes with finding a piece that feels like you.

But the heart of Risen West goes deeper than the product.

Inspired by Isaiah 61:3, which speaks of a crown of beauty instead of ashes, our brand is rooted in the reminder that brokenness doesn't have to be the end of the story.

Through our support of Children's Relief International, we also want our business to help bring hope and practical support to communities in need, including persecuted Christian communities.

Our prayer is that the impact of Risen West reaches further than the people who wear our hats. We want the work we do to reflect the hope we've found in Jesus.

We're Still Becoming

Ten years of business. Three years of building with a deeper mission. Different niches, different names, and countless lessons along the way.

And we're still learning, still growing, and still trusting God with what's next.

Risen West is not the beginning of our story. It's the continuation of a journey that has shaped our family, strengthened our faith, and given us a clearer understanding of why we build.

Thank you for being part of this chapter, whether you've been with us since the early days of Wilder & Soul or you're just discovering Risen West.

We're grateful you're here.

Built over a decade. Led by faith. Risen with purpose.

With love and gratitude,
Beth & Jay
Founders of Risen West