Meet Bill Johnston | Entrepreneur, Founder & President

We had the good fortune of connecting with Bill Johnston and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Bill, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
I started Recover in 2010 because I wanted to work in sustainability and there weren’t job opportunities in that field. After graduating college in 2008, during the height of the recession, opportunities were sparse, much less in the field that you wanted to work, so my entrepreneurial juices started flowing. At first, my main focus was on renewable energy and sustainable development – I became a LEED AP, did internships, and continued researching different areas of sustainability. That’s when I discovered the technology of using recycled cotton and polyester in textile applications. At the time I was working in the outdoor industry as a backpacking and mountaineering guide, so I combined my passion for the outdoors and protecting the natural environment with recycled textile technology, and started a brand called Recover. In the early days it was a steep uphill battle as there just wasn’t much consumer awareness around 100% recycled products, but over time the concept caught on and we continue to see more engagement every day.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
Recover is a mission-driven company and sustainability is at the core of everything we do as a brand.  We’re the pioneers of sustainable apparel, and as the world becomes more aware of the climate crisis, it’s critical that we change as an industry and as a society.  We want to be a source of inspiration for our team, our customers, our industry, and even our competitors. Recover is The Responsible Company For Everyone, and we constantly work to raise the bar.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I live in the North Carolina mountains. We do have an office in Boulder, and I am there often, but I don’t think I can give a locals guide to the city.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I’d like to give a shoutout to my team for believing in the brand and working so hard every day to make Recover what it is.  It’s all about teamwork and we have an amazing squad.

Website: https://recoverbrands.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/recoverbrands/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/recover-brands/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/recoverbrands

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@recoverbrands