Work with Erika Ayers Badan WORK Conversations: Say Hi to Halfdays Founder Ariana Ferwerda
Jan 19, 2026
Ariana Ferwerda is the innovative founder of Half Days, a women's ski and outdoor apparel brand that launched in 2020. In this discussion, she reveals how she identified the gap in ugly yet technical women's ski gear. Ariana shares her journey of raising $850K early on and the challenges of building a team in a competitive market. They delve into issues like gatekeeping in the outdoor industry, the importance of blending functionality with personal identity, and Ariana's design inspirations from vintage aesthetics. This conversation is a must-listen for aspiring entrepreneurs!
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Founders' Origin And Early Raise
- Ariana Ferwerda and former Olympic skier Kylie met and launched Halfdays in November 2020 after finding women's ski wear unappealing and ill-fitting.
- They raised $850,000 pre-seed to fund a 7,000-unit first production run and launch the business.
High Minimums And Inventory Pressure
- Ski apparel manufacturing requires large minimums and is costly; Halfdays' first run was 7,000 units costing hundreds of thousands.
- Two 23-year-olds had to convince investors to fund inventory-heavy production despite being early in their careers.
Prioritize Team, Wholesale, And Brand Building
- Spend raised capital on team, wholesale distribution, and brand-building to scale reach and operations.
- Invest in community and social marketing plus partnerships to grow awareness and retail presence.