Collin Smitherman and his cat, Sici, at Stoked in the East Village. (Photo: Emmett McMenamy)
By Emmett McMenamy
If you stop by Stoked, you’ll likely be greeted by Sici the cat. But Sici is more than a greeter; she’s a symbol. Her nine lives represent how the store’s pre-owned outdoor gear can find new life and purpose.
Stoked is an outdoor apparel and equipment store in the East Village, at 518 E. Grand Ave. The store’s (and cat’s) owner is Collin Smitherman, an avid outdoorsman who values sustainability and protecting the planet. That’s why he decided to open the store’s reuse and repair program. Starting in March, locals can consign or sell used clothing, camping equipment or other outdoor gear to Stoked for the reuse area in the store’s basement. Stoked will also offer repair and rental services, starting in April.
The project began last year, after Smitherman began feeling a tension between his business goals and his love for the outdoors. Ever since he opened Stoked in 2021, he’s encouraged folks to get outside.
“At first, I always saw myself selling new stuff,” he said. “But I knew that selling new was not very sustainable or good for the environment.”
After some self-reflection, he realized his next step: Stoked’s reuse and repair program. The outdoor industry boomed during the pandemic, which led to unsustainable practices such as overproduction and “fast fashion” trends.
But Smitherman has always liked old gear, and he wanted to support second-hand sales. “Every hole, tear and stain on (my gear) was a memory of the time I took to camp and hike,” he said. “I always appreciated old, beat-up outdoor gear that still had a ton of life left.”
He opened Stoked after selling electric skateboards and e-bikes out of his apartment. After a few years of business, he considered getting out of retail altogether, wondering if he was actually helping the local community. But Stoked had an unused basement, which he dedicated to the new cause.
“I thought: ‘You know what, I’m going to dive into it,” he said. “I really think retail is a good spot to help my community and help people get out camping and outdoors.”
The Stoked basement mirrors the old clothing it now holds. The building has been around since the 1800s and its basement floors are uneven. Des Moines artist James “Jimmy” Navarro plans to paint murals on the basement’s plain white walls, to give the place another layer of new life.
So after growing up on an Iowa farm and spending time fishing, hunting and camping, Smitherman now gets to share the outdoors with the community while supporting the environment. With the reused equipment, rentals and repair, customers can gear up for the outdoors for less money than buying new.
“It’s not about making money, it’s about getting people outside,” he said.
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