About Us
Built in the Midwest.
Built for the Bold.
Hunter Dowse grew up in Lincoln, Nebraska — a city kid with deep roots in the outdoors, spending his time hunting and fishing across western Nebraska. Trae Miller came from Colorado Springs, where the mountains shaped him, before he made Lincoln home. They met on the first day of high school football practice and became teammates, then brothers.
From that day forward, they were always onto the next adventure — fishing, hunting, golfing, snowboarding, soccer, and everything in between. Both went on to the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, where Hunter studied business and Trae studied graphic design. Between Husker football games, good memories, and a shared love of sports and the outdoors, an idea started to take shape.
They looked at the world of athletic apparel and saw the same thing: it had gotten boring. So they decided to do something about it.
Why Ope?
Athletic apparel today is grey, safe, and forgettable. Everyone is chasing “what’s next” and landing in the same place. We asked a different question: what do people actually love? The answer was color, personality, and designs with real soul. Ope Athletics brings that back — retro-inspired style on high-performance gear, built for athletes, outdoorsmen, and fitness enthusiasts who want to express themselves and stand out from the mundane.
The Midwest Is Our Blueprint
The plains. The peaks. The rivers, the fields, the Friday night lights. The Midwest doesn’t get enough credit — and we’re here to change that. There’s a grit and a warmth to this place that shapes everything we make. Every design carries the beauty of where we came from — the mountains of Colorado, the wide-open spaces of Nebraska, and the spirit of two guys who never stopped competing.
Welcome to Ope Athletics. Let’s Go.