Founder Spotlight: Kristen Decker (DESERT BLOOM)
Meet Kristen Decker
Desert Bloom crafts luxury cowgirl boots from a premium, plant-based bio-leather made from corn, wheat, and recycled material. We deliver the rich feel and strength of traditional leather without the environmental cost.
Location:
Vancouver, Washington, USA
When did you launch the business?
October 2024
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Startup Stage?
Bootstrapped / Seed - Proudly self-funded, with a couple angle investors and independently built, focused on sustainable growth through community, creativity, and craftsmanship.”
What led you to where you are today?
My team has been the driving force behind Desert Bloom’s growth—bringing vision, creativity, and grit to every step of the journey. Their dedication to craftsmanship, sustainability, and community has shaped our brand into what it is today. Together, we’ve turned a bold idea into a movement that’s just getting started.
What do you wish you knew before embarking on your entrepreneurial journey?
I wish I had known just how much capital it truly takes to build a brand from the ground up, and how challenging it is to earn trust in a crowded market. Introducing an innovative product comes with the added work of educating customers on why it matters, which takes time, persistence, and creativity. Still, those challenges have shaped me into a stronger and more resilient entrepreneur.
What is the most difficult decision you've had to make regarding your business so far?
The most difficult decision I’ve had to make was letting a few team members go—not because I wanted to, but because it was necessary to preserve cash and ensure the brand’s survival. Protecting the future of Desert Bloom Boots meant making sacrifices, and that has been by far the hardest part of my journey as a founder.
What can you help the VEGPRENEUR community with?
Desert Bloom can support the VEGPRENEUR community by sharing our journey of building a sustainable, plant-based luxury brand and the lessons we’ve learned along the way. We can offer insights on scaling with innovative materials, educating consumers about ethical fashion, and navigating the challenges of staying true to both sustainability and style. Most importantly, we can contribute to the collective mission of proving that conscious, cruelty-free businesses can thrive and inspire real change in the marketplace.
How can the VEGPRENEUR community help you?
The VEGPRENEUR community can help Desert Bloom by amplifying our story, connecting us with like-minded partners, and opening doors to retailers, investors, and collaborators who believe in sustainable luxury. Guidance from those who have successfully scaled plant-based brands would be invaluable, as would a supportive network to share resources, feedback, and inspiration. Together, we can accelerate the shift toward conscious consumerism.
Fun fact about you:
A cowgirl at heart, equally at home in boots at a music festival or in a boardroom pitch. Loves road trips and travel, finding inspiration in new places and people. Has a strong creative streak and enjoys being hands-on with design and branding. A dog lover who believes every great idea is better with a four-legged sidekick. Draws energy from country music, making Nashville collaborations especially meaningful.
Anything else you would like to share?
Desert Bloom is showing that luxury Western fashion can be both sustainable and stylish. By crafting boots from innovative plant-based materials, we’re reimagining what conscious fashion looks like without sacrificing quality or design. For vegan listeners and readers, our story is about more than just footwear—it’s about proving that cruelty-free choices can be bold, beautiful, and built to last.
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