About Me

It all started when...

 my Dad Robert John Clancey founded an apparel company in my native Hawaii in 1953.  Prior to starting his business, He served in the Pacific in WWII. After he left the Navy he began a career as a sales rep for Jantzen, managing a diverse portfolio of sportswear & swimwear products. His Job as a Rep brought him to Hawaii, a place he visited during the War.

After several years of success in sales, my dad pursued his entrepreneurial spirit and founded RJC Hawaii, a thriving family-owned business that produces a wide array of the finest aloha apparel for locals and tourists. If you’ve been to Hawaii, you’ve no doubt seen the brands & labels he created over the years:  RJC, Kai Nani, Kole Kole, Kalaheo, Nui Nalu and Shannon Marie to name a few. My dad believed in the concept of “for us, by us” so the company continues to manufacture all of its apparel in the Hawaiian Islands to this day. The “aloha shirt” business my dad started way back in 1953 still thrives today and is currently run by my brothers.

THAT WAS THE INSPIRATION. Entrepreneurship is in my blood. My interest and obsession with technical products started when I moved to Colorado from my native Hawaii to go to school. I got turned on to snowboarding in college and became fascinated with the idea of technical apparel, clothing that could keep you comfortable outside, regardless of the conditions. This first experience in the mountains, the first time I had ever seen snow, and the idea that proper clothing could protect you in “difficult” conditions are what led me down my path in design.  

Like my dad, I decided to pursue my own entrepreneurial spirit and founded a technical apparel brand called Homeschool in 2010 (first line launched in 2012).  This small start-up company pays homage to outdoor sports and the Pacific Northwest. The brand was the perfect vehicle to combine my love of snowboarding and the maniacal obsession I have with technical apparel design. 

At Homeschool, we designed and manufactured hyper breathable, durable, timeless and sustainable outerwear, layering pieces and accessories that address the needs of serious snowboarders and outdoor enthusiasts in the Pacific Northwest and around the globe.  The brand was designed for technical-minded and discerning individuals who love the outdoors and won’t let the weather stop them. We pioneered the use of several new technologies around breathability and sustainability in the action sports market. I’ve managed, creative directed, designed and produced a huge amount of creative output and world class product that works in the most difficult environments possible.

I firmly believe that brands and products are about the stories they tell, particularly in "lifestyle” and “action sports" companies. These are not commodities - they are products that allow us to spend more of our precious time doing what we love. Good brands tell stories well. The product and its design are a vehicle for that story. Managing both the business side and aligning the messaging to the needs of the business are critically important to success in any pursuit regardless of scale many of the problems and challenges are the same.

As the Founding CEO of  Homeschool I designed 9 Fall/Winter seasons of product from start to finish while managing a small team of creatives and international sales force of independent reps and distributors in Japan, Canada and the UK.

Over a 10 year period, one of the biggest lessons I learned about starting a business is that the sole owner’s primary attention will eventually pivot to managing the business, including all the day-to-day operational nuts & bolts of keeping the operation running. “Starting” something and “running” something require a different skill set and mind set. Over time, I found myself drifting further away from  aspects that attracted me to starting the business in the first place—pen to paper and solving problems.  Although I’ve recently made the tough decision to step away from the brand I created, I am extremely proud of what we accomplished over the decade. It’s been the opportunity of a lifetime, and the brand’s successes & my business start-up experience will remain with me forever and still influence how I think about my work today. I would not change anything.

I am currently doing freelance work with Colossal Creative and pursuing a Master’s degree in Management with a focus on innovation and entrepreneurship from Harvard University.

 My Passions include; design, textiles, sustainability, and the functional aspects of technical apparel and solving complex problems. I am an avid snowboarder and motorcycle enthusiast. Art and music are a big part of my life and I enjoy restoring old cars, particularly late 60's Mopars. I enjoy spending time with my family and 10-year-old son.  I currently reside in Portland OR.