By Anne Marlowe Conrad
In the roughly 15 years, since I was introduced to Kirstie Pike and her husband Steve, I have watched a delightful phenomenon occur. Kirstie, a former nurse, started Prois, a women’s hunting clothing company having no experience in the clothing industry. Through much trial and error, she has created a fantastic clothing line of products and, coincidentally, also started a movement; call it a “sisterhood” if you will.
Kirstie recognized the lack of performance-driven hunting gear for women and set out to do something about it. Though Prois has exceptional products, there is another important reason the company prospers. I believe it is the culture of the Prois company and its followers beginning with Kirstie, sidekick Katherine Browne and Mia Enstrom, social media coordinator.
Anytime Prois women get together there is raucous hilarity, positivity, and unbridled support! They are cheerleading for each other along with the occasional slightly raunchy “Your MOM “jokes at the lighthearted expense of their favorite lady, “Kara’s mom.”
I spoke to Kirstie about her company and one of the first questions people ask her is, “What does Prois mean?” She told me “Prois” is Gaelic for prowess or pride. The names of her product lines also have Gaelic names; Pradlann, for example means prairie and is the tag for the Prois upland hunting line.
The Prois sisterhood strategy works! They are focused on making Prois a success with creativity, inspiration and all motivated by mutual friendship. Here are a few quotes from “The Posse,” you’ll find amusing --
Maggie Boineau
“It all started with a hat. I had been following Prois on Facebook, and Tarra Stoddard, a longtime Prois Staffer, reached out to me to invite me to join the South Carolina Prois page and told me about a contest Prois had to get more girls to join the state pages. I have always been very competitive, and I helped bring in a lot of girls. Tarra was so sweet and sent me a Prois hat to thank me for contributing. I loved the hat, and in a short time, I felt like Tarra was a lifelong friend. I recall mentioning to her that the Prois Staffers always looked like they were having so much fun, and not much later, she recommended me for a staff position. Eight years later, the friendships I have made have been so wonderful. My closet is overflowing with fabulous hunting clothes, and to think that it all started with a hat and an incredibly awesome Prois sister!
Quail hunting is one of my favorite hunts, and the Pradlann Prois line would thrill any female upland hunter. The rugged but stretchable Pradlann Field pant is so comfortable, and the Pradlann Upland 1/2 Zip Pullover is ultra-light and offers sun protection with breathable comfort!”
Prois is growing because their business plan’s core values and mission have stayed consistent through the years. What stands behind the magic of the Prois sisterhood, is a well-designed, highly practical, 5-star quality clothing line that is birthed high in the Colorado mountains. Otherwise, it would only be another group of ladies on the Internet just sharing their stories.
They started with just a few choices of jackets, pants, and shirts. Amazingly the product line has expanded its selection for almost any hunting or outdoor activity from fishing to turkey hunting and even Safari wear. Kirstie says “Prois has the most comprehensive women’s hunting line in the world.”
Some of the Prois collections include:
There is something for every woman whether tall or short, slim, or curvy and for each weather situation you might find yourself in.
Nay Labonte put it like this: “As someone who is tall, I've had to wear men's hunting clothes just so I can be warm. Even though it didn't fit, I basically looked like a walking camo trash bag, and it wasn't comfortable, but I just dealt with it. Even if I found some women hunting items the selection was so small that I felt like companies were basically saying "women hunting? Yeah right! They don't like dirt. But here are a couple useless items so we don't look like we are discriminating."
The first time I tried on Prois winter hunting pants, I honestly didn't expect them to fit, and I assumed that they would still be short even though they said that they were a long size! Ohhh boy!!! I was wrong. I was so excited! I said "take my money!! I need these!"
I keep coming back to that brand, not only because I support women owned businesses but because it's good quality, I don't look like I just crawled out of a dumpster when I wear it, and I can move in it! You can honestly tell that the person who designed these items is a woman who actually hunts, and she knows how to satisfy my every need and desire...Well when it comes to hunting gear anyway!”
She went on, “I literally wear my winter Prois gear when I'm out doing chores on the farm in a blizzard filling up troughs and I'm perfectly happy just sitting there in that blizzard because I'm so warm.
This sisterhood reminds me that there are women out there that truly want to see me succeed in whatever I do and be grittier than any man they've ever met. We support more than just hunting, we support each other's lives, and the support is strong!!”
Prois also has their own exclusive “camo” patterns. This includes the new Cumbre and the upcoming Merge patterns. These have a little greener pattern for gals needing that extra blending in the lusher areas of the country.
Prois sisterhoods frequently hunt and fish together and can be found building lifelong friendships across the globe. Several of them recently returned from a very successful New Zealand stag hunt and yearly pheasant hunts in South Dakota, plus a while lot in between.
Marcy Harris hunts in Prois gear and had this to say.
“I’ve been wearing Prois since right after they went into business. I loved how they were constantly challenging themselves to keep improving and always listening to the lady hunters.
The Prois staff is so fun! Where I am at, there aren’t many women who hunt like I do. It’s great to see ladies pushing the limits!”
Prois has a huge dedicated following having many committed ladies of the sisterhood who love to help promote the brand. Many states have “coordinators” who set-up events and promote Prois online through the various state Facebook pages. Check to see if your state has a Prois Facebook page. Please click on www.Proishunting.com and check them out on social media. Prois is also found in Scheels stores.