Member Spotlight: Parker Hamlin | CHIEF Provisions

Parker Hamlin is the founder and lead designer at CHIEF Provisions. We asked Parker about what make CHIEF Provisions unique, some of the issues he sees the industry facing, and we get a look at CHIEF Provisions’ new QuickDraw Shorts.

"With each product we create, we focus on designing a true provision, a piece of gear or apparel that will enhance your adventure, whatever that may be.”

How did you find yourself working in the fishing industry? Do you fish yourself?

Parker: I’ve been fishing for quite some time. One of my earliest memories is almost falling in the pond at my grandpa’s place after setting the hook on a sizable bass. From that moment on, fishing was about all I could think about. Luckily, I had a group of friends who all felt the same way. We would often find ourselves waking up at 5 am on a Saturday in hopes of finding our sharelunker. 

As we got older and our families took trips to Colorado, we found fly fishing and became obsessed. College really fueled the flame, and led me all over the country chasing anything that would take a fly. I launched the Fly Fishing Club at UVA but still found myself wanting more time on the water. After graduating in the middle of the pandemic and losing my job shortly thereafter , I found myself with the opportunity to launch the brand I had always dreamed of and quickly got to work. I’d spend the next year and a half designing and testing the flagship product of CHIEF, our QuickDraw pants. With my own needs in mind, I wanted to create the ultimate pant for any & every adventure, especially those on the water.

What is the history behind CHIEF Provisions? 

Parker: While I kind of touched on our history above, in truth, CHIEF has been a project of mine since 2018. A few years prior back in high school, during a Career Day spent at YETI headquarters, I was fortunate enough to have lunch with Ryan Seiders and pick his brain about how he and his brother built YETI into what it is today. That conversation, along with their short film “In Current”, stirred coals from a fire I had long forgotten about, but I knew I now wouldn’t be able to ignore. Fast forward to the summer of 2018, with no real plans for my next few months, I decided I would try and launch the brand we now know as CHIEF. The brand has changed a lot since then, but our core values have remained the same and we have been unwavering in our dedication to designing better gear for better adventures.

What makes CHIEF Provisions unique?

Parker: With each product we create, we focus on designing a true provision, a piece of gear or apparel that will enhance your adventure, whatever that may be. That starts with crafting a user experience to address a variety of needs. We understand that nothing is a one-size-fits-all solution, but we strive to create thoughtfully designed products that address specific needs without compromising versatility. I want a pair of pants that are just as comfortable in the flats of Ambergris Caye as they are on the flight down there.