Anything by Malcolm Gladwell. As a business owner, I tend to like things that are studies of human behavior, especially as it pertains to business, like The Tipping Point.
What charity or cause are you passionate about?
Nature and trail building, like the work Alaska Trails does. I also have a big soft spot for anything to do with children’s well-being and getting kids into nature.
What’s your favorite local restaurant?
Fire Island Rustic Bakeshop.
What vacation spot is on your bucket list?
Eastern Canada. I’m from Canada originally, and I’ve traveled west so much and traveled in other countries abroad. I really would love to see the east coast of Canada.
If you could domesticate a wild animal, what animal would it be?
When I was a child, I found a baby mole… so it would either be that or an Arctic ground squirrel.
Anything by Malcolm Gladwell. As a business owner, I tend to like things that are studies of human behavior, especially as it pertains to business, like The Tipping Point.
What charity or cause are you passionate about?
Nature and trail building, like the work Alaska Trails does. I also have a big soft spot for anything to do with children’s well-being and getting kids into nature.
What’s your favorite local restaurant?
Fire Island Rustic Bakeshop.
What vacation spot is on your bucket list?
Eastern Canada. I’m from Canada originally, and I’ve traveled west so much and traveled in other countries abroad. I really would love to see the east coast of Canada.
If you could domesticate a wild animal, what animal would it be?
When I was a child, I found a baby mole… so it would either be that or an Arctic ground squirrel.
Off the Cuff
hreads woven into the fabric of Alpine Fit outdoor apparel stretch back to the wilds of Canada. Roving her homeland taught founder and owner Jen Loofbourrow the importance of having appropriate gear. She studied chemistry and worked as a materials specialist at yoga clothing giant lululemon, and she ran her own business—a Scandinavian underwear franchise—while living in Ireland.
Stitched together, the result is adventure clothing designed to fit a variety of body types and sewn in Midtown Anchorage with silver odor-fighting components.
“You can’t get a comparable thing made somewhere else,” she says.
With barely a handful of employees aiming for a national reach, Loofbourrow commits to a product once it’s tested and launched. “If you’re changing your inventory like some of the bigger, more fashion-oriented brands, that is a lot of cash spent and turnover. It’s hard for a small company to do that,” she says. That means concentrating on core products and, she admits, deprioritizing men’s clothing.
“Making clothing is kind of like engineering,” she says. “I wish there was something more recognized under the engineering umbrella that had to do with clothing.”
Jen Loofbourrow: Anything outdoors. Trail running, time with the family, hiking, backpacking, biking, skiing if it’s winter.
AB: What’s the most daring thing you’ve ever done?
Loofbourrow: Myself and my friends rescuing ourselves from a terrible hand accident that I had [from falling rocks while hiking in Juneau]. I almost lost my thumb… All I could do was choose to survive and get better.
AB: What’s the first thing you do when you get home after a long day at work?
Loofbourrow: Make a giant portion of homemade popcorn and enjoy some relaxing time on the couch. I love popcorn; I probably make popcorn from scratch four to seven times a week—and sometimes share with my family [she laughs].
AB: What’s your greatest extravagance?
Loofbourrow: A hot tub. I never thought I’d be a hot tub person, and the house we bought had one. Now I use it all the time.
AB: Dead or alive, who would you like to see perform live in concert?
Loofbourrow: Tom Petty… I would enjoy being transported back to going to his concert when I was a teenager [she laughs].
AB: Is there a skill you’re currently developing or have always wanted to learn?
Loofbourrow: Singing lessons. As an adult that has never played an instrument… I decided to commit to taking voice training lessons.
AB: What are you superstitious about?
Loofbourrow: Knocking on wood is definitely a superstition… I would place myself in the middle on the scale of superstition.
AB: What’s your best attribute and worst attribute?
Loofbourrow: Creative problem solving is my best. I almost can’t stop myself… My worst attribute: stress. Sometimes I let stress take over, and it does affect my ability to perform, which results in a crash that needs rest to recover from.
