smeeny made wild…
...handmade knits and adventure goods
that give back and get you outside
There is a peace and freedom that comes from connecting with nature that, even for a moment, makes your worries wash away. I’m awed by the stars on clear nights camping in the desert, humbled by a snowcapped mountain summit, and moved by the sight of blooming fields of wildflowers.
Being outdoorsy isn’t all about the epic ski lines or big summits. It’s about the every day moments where we can be with nature…a morning coffee walk with your bestie, a stop by the river with your pup, a sandwich on the patio, or whatever it is that feels good to you.
When I started selling my knits in 2017, I had no idea this is “my little knitting business” would become. What began as Smeeny Beanie Knits, a small side hustle selling handmade knit beanies and where I occasionally shared adventures from my life in the mountains, has blossomed into Smeeny Made Wild, a community of knitters, makers, outdoor adventurers, and other women-led businesses who care about the planet and creating a better world.
Smeeny Made Wild is about so much more than keeping your head warm. It’s about feeling good in the outdoors, celebrating the slowness of handmade, and cheering each other on in our pursuit of living a creative life.
Stay Wild
Mission
Connection and Community
I hope to inspire you to get outside and appreciate the outdoors, to cherish these places, and make everyday choices that will have important positive impacts on our planet and help save the wild.
Every aspect of the life I live now has been impacted by a connection to nature and the outdoors. The parks and my time spent in them are one of the reasons that my husband and I moved to Colorado, and choosing to prioritize an outdoor lifestyle instead of chasing a restaurant chef career has made my life what it is today.
From recycled packaging to ethical and sustainable materials, I am doing what I can to make impactful choices for my business. A portion of each sale is donated to Protect Our Winters. I recognize that we can’t have environmental justice without also addressing racial justice and additionally donate to organizations that do work at the intersection of these values. I hope that even my small donations can do their part in supporting positive change, creating a more inclusive outdoors, protecting our public lands, and allowing us to continue exploring the great outdoors.
I am proud to support Protect Our Winters
Every purchase you make from Smeeny Made Wild is a choice to give back to the planet, it’s people, and to protect our parks. Smeeny Made Wild is a proud member of 1% for the Planet and 1% of all revenue is donated to climate change efforts.
“What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make.”
-Jane Goodall
Why give back?
Every purchase you make is helping give back to our planet. So much of the life I live today was influenced and impacted by spending time outside and in our National Parks, and I want to ensure that the magic of our wild places can be preserved for the generations to come.
When I turned my hobby into a business, I knew that I wanted it to make a difference. I’ve always admired businesses that are making impact and wanted to do my part in supporting a cause that I care about.
Through Smeeny Made Wild, I hope to inspire you to get outside, care about our environment, and be grateful for the simple joys and beauty that nature so graciously provides.
Blog
“We can change the world and make it a better place. It is in our hands to make a difference.”
-Nelson Mandela
Our Sustainability Journey
In a world of fast fashion and constantly changing clothing trends it is so important at Smeeny Made Wild that we do as much as possible to reduce our impact on the environment and create high quality, long-lasting products that you are proud to wear.
From eco-friendly packaging to ethically and sustainably sourced materials, your adventure goods have been made with love, care, and the planet in mind.
“Getting outside and enjoying the beauty that nature has to offer has made such a huge impact on my life. Living in the mountains of Colorado, an outdoor lifestyle is why I chose to call this home. I truly believe that what we do makes a difference and that the choices we make are a part of that. “
-Chereen, Owner, Maker, and Designer of Smeeny made wild
Eco-friendly packaging
Every order from Smeeny Made Wild is shipped in minimal plastic-free packaging made from 100% recycled and recyclable packaging materials. The world of consumer shopping is increasingly online and how we package our goods matters. The more we can reduce unnecessary packaging and materials that end up in landfills, the more we can minimize our negative impact on the environment. By using sustainable packaging materials, I hope I can encourage our customers to recognize that this is something that matters and to reduce, reuse, and recycle!
Ethical and sustainable Yarns
Not all wools are created equal and I am so proud to source high quality wool yarn from companies that are dedicated to being as ethical and sustainable as possible as well as ensuring ethical and sustainable practice throughout their supply chains. These wool yarns are sourced from Peru and Uruguay where mulesing is not practiced and colored with environmentally safe dyes. These companies also ensure ethical working conditions and fair wages down the supply chain.
Giving Back to Environmental and Social Justice
Giving back and supporting organizations who do work in environmental justice, climate change, racial and social justice, LGBTQIA+ rights, women’s rights, and mental health are some of the many things that are important to our ethical and sustainable business journey. As a 1% for the Planet member, Smeeny Made Wild donates 1% of all revenue to approved environmental nonprofit organizations.
handmade in the colorado mountains
How are your beanies made? Every Smeeny Beanie is handmade by me. I LOVE knitting and put great care into every piece I create. Items that I don’t make, like the cork tags and faux fur pom poms are sourced from other small makers and our intentionally curated adventure goods are sourced from or in collaboration with aligned brands and artists that care about the planet as much as I do! We are stronger together and I am excited to be able to support other small businesses too!
Meet the Maker
My best girl, Arya!
Me at the farm in 2018
Chereen Leong Schwarz
owner | Designer | Maker
Hey hi, friend! I’m Chereen...owner, designer, and maker of Smeeny Made Wild (formerly Smeeny Beanie Knits). From growing up along the Pacific coastline and redwoods of Northern California to living most of my adult life in Colorado mountain town, I’ve always loved spending time outside. As a kid, I loved playing in the dirt, hiking, and camping, and after college, spent two seasons working and living in Yellowstone National Park.
After those seasons in Yellowstone, my (now) husband and I thought we’d be ski bums for a winter and moved to the small ski town of Steamboat Springs, Colorado. What we thought would be one winter has now become 12 years!
After our first winter, I really wanted to pick up a crafty hobby. I was a chef by trade, so most of my time off was when other people were working. I’d always wanted to learn how to knit and found a couple of knitting needles at the local thrift store. I taught myself how to knit watching YouTube videos, and what started off as a fleeting fancy became a passion. I LOVED seeing my stitches become something more. I was obsessed with figuring out new patterns and new techniques. After several years of making things for close friends and family,
I started Smeeny Beanie Knits (now Smeeny Made Wild) in 2017, and in 2018 left my chef career to work on a local farm.
Two years later, I became fully self-employed and went from working 70+ hours/week as a chef, burned out, exhausted, and using knitting as a way to wind down, to choosing to prioritize LIVING and building a business that aligns and supports a life of adventure, travel, and spending time with the people I care about.
I could never have dreamed that what started as a side hustle is now my full time business and has grown to become an incredible community of other adventurous creatives, artists, makers, and small business owners.
Through sharing my creative life, adventures, travels, and love of the outdoors, I hope to inspire others to follow their dreams, build a life they love, and reconnect with themselves and nature. When we rewild ourselves, we live more intentionally, have more meaningful connections, and care more about things beyond ourselves.
Thank you for being a part of my story.
Bestselling Styles
