Get to Know YoColorado and Our Founders, Brad & Pe

Yo! We’re Brad and Pe, the founders and co-owners of YoColorado. Thanks for taking the time to learn more about our brand —we’re grateful for your interest!

Read on to learn more about us—two designers who met in Colorado and bonded over skater tees, the fader stripes on old camper vans, music and the laid-back vibe of mountain life—and how YoColorado came to be what it is today.

What’s Your Background?  We’re both graphic designers by trade and artists by heart. Pe graduated from the University of Northern Iowa with a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) and Graphic Design. From an early age, he was drawn to the idea of starting his own clothing line. Brad earned his BFA at Oklahoma State in Sculpture and Painting, and has been an artist and musician his whole life. He put himself through college managing a local screen print shop.

How Did You Two Meet and Create YoColorado? We met in the early 2000s while working at a marketing and merchandising agency in Boulder and quickly realized we shared a lot of the same interests—and worked well together. After leaving, we each started custom apparel businesses but continued teaming up on larger projects, including managing apparel for Ironman Triathlons across North America.

YoColorado started in 2013 with us grabbing coffee—just a quick check-in that turned into plans for a vintage Colorado flag ski beanie. That success quickly turned into trucker hats, and before long, the idea grew into something much bigger—what’s now a full apparel brand rooted in retro style, bold color, and a love for the outdoors.

In the early days, we did a little bit of everything—designing, packing orders, driving across the state to visit small shops, and setting up at hundreds of festivals along the way. That hustle took us from mom-and-pop wholesale accounts across Colorado to launching our direct-to-consumer website, partnering with national brands like REI, Vail Resorts, and Christy Sports, growing to 300+ wholesale partners, and opening our retail shop in downtown Golden about four years ago.

A lot has changed since then, but some things haven’t. At our core, we’re still designers—passionate about creating playful, quality, retro-inspired pieces that bring you joy, comfort, and nostalgia. We make everything with the hope that it becomes your favorite piece.

What does YoColorado mean? 

Yo: a friendly hello – warm, welcoming and full of good vibes.

Colorado: our inspiration. Colorful, vibrant and a call to come outside – to adventure, play, explore and have some fun. 

What are some of your proudest achievements with your business?  Reaching the 10-year mark was a huge milestone for us. Along the way, we realized we were wholesaling to more than 300 retailers, including REI, Christy Sports, and Vail Resorts. We also never could have imagined the honor of collaborating with legendary Colorado brands like Coors—still the largest single-site brewery in the world—and National Ski Patrol.

When the nationally beloved Goldens in Golden event rolls into town each year — as the official merchandiser we’re proud to give back a portion of all sales. In 2026, we donated $8000 to Foothills Animal Shelter and Golden Retriever Rescue of the Rockies to help local pets and the people who love them.

One more moment of personal pride: back when we worked together in Boulder, we used to listen to Citizen Cope all the time. Years later, through YoColorado, we met him, went backstage after a show, and even produced custom merch for him. Getting to work with one of our musical heroes was a pretty surreal moment.

Thanks for learning more about our ride with YoColorado. We hope our clothing brings you smiles, good vibes and fuels the fun every time you step outside. 

Have fun out there!  

Brad & Pe