It started with the simple idea of designing a one-of-a-kind ski jacket. A jacket that was customized by the rider, for the rider. A jacket that had exactly what you desired – high-quality waterproofing, technical features, rad colors and an awesome fit.

That's exactly what the guys at Northwest Tech are creating. High quality and unique customized outdoor apparel at a competitive price point. 

NWT3K got it's start when Nick Marvik was attending Western Washington University. Nick was enrolled in an entrepreneurship course and he came up with the idea for an outerwear company that was unique in the lift line but yet still simple, stylish, and functional.

I had the chance to speak with their Founder/CEO, Nick Marvik, and their CTO, Ryan Downing, about this small, bootstrapped company out of Seattle, Washington.  

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SAM: Where did your passion originate from to create an outerwear company?

NICK: Biggest thing, action sports. Everything is very style focused and having your own style is big in action sports. You have to validate that unique, stylish, one-off focus point.

SAM: I’m beginning to see “Made in the USA” more and more across all types of industries. I kept seeing this on your website as well. Is that an important value to your company?

RYAN: Today, 97.5% of apparel sold in America is made outside the U.S. When you keep it in the United States, it's something you can be very proud of. We can visit the factory and factory owner right here in Seattle. If the factory was in China and something shows up and it’s not right, what do you do? "Made in the USA" is a core product point. We can react quick to the market. Our goal of keeping NWT3K USA-made will continue to be embodied in our products as we move forward.

SAM: What makes your company stand-out from the juggernauts such as The North Face, Patagonia, Columbia, etc?

RYAN: Customization is at our core. We provide a unique product to the people and we’re not retail based. We're building the business more technologically advanced which is at the forefront of the industry. NWT3K looks at it as, how can we use technology to solve the sizing problem? We are a bootstrapped company that uses the start-up to our advantage. Big companies can’t provide the real one-on-one communication.

SAM: I saw on your website that you have a “team” of skiers/riders. How did this start and how do you choose the “team"?

RYAN: We’re building a community of up-and-coming riders from the Northwest.  We promote through social feeds and close relationships to connect the riders. We can give them a foot in the door while they can provide true product feedback. Our ambassador's are not pro riders but well known in their particular region. They are a bit older and more experienced then the up-and-coming army of riders.

SAM: Is the 3-layer waterproof fabric and water-resistant zippers in your products specifically made for wet Pacific Northwest weather or can it also stand-up to a below-zero day while skiing in Colorado?

NICK: Our jackets are somewhere between an insulated and a hardshell jacket. I would wear a mid-layer, base-layer, and then our jacket on a cold day. They are made for year-round adventures but not for climbing Mt. Everest! 

SAM: Describe your products in five words or less.

RYAN: Rider inspired. Designed by you. 

SAM: Is there anything else that you would like our readers to know?

RYAN: Our new Team Jackets program. It's a new part of our business model that is designed for ski clubs, teams, or anyone looking to purchase custom jackets in bulk. They are one-of-a-kind jackets that can't be seen anywhere else. 

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The days of seeing lookalikes are over. Click over to http://nwt3k.com to customize your next set-up.  

Sam Collentine | OpenSnow