How a Custom Plush Chalk Bag Reignited a Love for Climbing (And Launched My Rock Climbing Brand)

Three years ago, I wasn’t planning to start a rock climbing business.

I was trying to bring back a spark.

My husband had slowly lost interest in climbing. The stoke that once pulled him toward the wall had faded. If you’ve ever watched someone drift from something they once loved, you know how quiet that shift can feel.

So for Christmas, I decided not to buy him gear.

I made him something.

I created a custom plush chalk bag based on his favorite South Park character. Not a generic chalk bag. Not something you’d grab off a shelf. A fully functional, handmade plush chalk bag with personality.

When he opened it, he laughed. That kind of laugh that lives somewhere between nostalgia and surprise.

But the best part?

He started climbing again.

He clipped that character to his harness and suddenly climbing felt different. Lighter. Playful. Personal. Other climbers noticed. Conversations started. The chalk bag became a companion on the wall.

That’s when I realized something important:

Climbing gear doesn’t have to be sterile.
It can have personality.
It can carry story.
It can bring someone back.

And that was the beginning.

From Gym Manager to Handmade Climbing Gear Creator

At the time, I was working as a manager at Epic Climbing and Fitness. The gym wasn’t just a workplace. It was community. I knew the members. I belayed them. I celebrated their sends.

When I brought that plush chalk bag into the gym, people noticed immediately.

“Where did you get that?”
“Can you make one of my favorite character?”
“Do you sell custom rock climbing chalk bags?”

My first customers were local climbers from the gym. People who wanted personalized climbing gear that reflected their identity.

Soon I was creating different characters, different sizes, and experimenting with designs that worked for both indoor gym climbing and outdoor sport climbing.

That’s when I opened an Etsy shop.

What started as one Christmas gift turned into a growing handmade rock climbing accessory business.

Over 80 Custom Chalk Bags Sold Worldwide

Since then, I’ve sold over 80 custom plush chalk bags worldwide and locally.

That still humbles me.

Each one is handcrafted. Designed to be both expressive and durable. Built for actual climbing sessions, not just decoration.

My custom chalk bags are designed for:

• Indoor gym climbers
• Outdoor sport climbers
• Boulderers who want unique climbing accessories
• People searching for personalized gifts for rock climbers

I focus on quality construction, secure closures, proper chalk capacity, and designs that stand out at the crag without sacrificing function.

When someone searches for “custom plush chalk bag for rock climbers” or “unique handmade climbing chalk bag gift,” I want them to find something made by someone who actually understands climbing culture.

Because I lived it.

Why Personalized Rock Climbing Gear Matters

Climbing is personal.

Your first 5.10.
Your first 5.12.
Your first outdoor lead.
The gym that became your second home.

A personalized rock climbing chalk bag becomes part of that journey. It hangs at your waist while you commit to hard moves. It shows up in your climbing photos. It becomes recognizable.

It’s gear with identity.

That’s why custom climbing accessories make meaningful gifts for:

• Christmas gifts for rock climbers
• Birthday gifts for climbers
• Unique bouldering gear
• Funny climbing accessories for someone who has everything

Climbing is already bold. Your gear can be too.

Expanding Into Rock Climber Lifestyle Products

As my chalk bags gained popularity, I realized something else.

Climbing doesn’t end when you leave the gym.

It follows you home.
Into your rest days.
Into the soreness.
Into the quiet replay of your project in your mind.

That inspired me to expand into rock climber lifestyle products.

Adventure-Inspired Rock Climber Candles

I created climbing-themed candles inspired by that post-session calm. The grounded feeling after pushing yourself on the wall.

These candles are perfect for:

• Rest day rituals for climbers
• Climber home decor
• Thoughtful gifts for outdoor enthusiasts
• Unique handmade gifts for climbing lovers

They bring climbing energy into everyday spaces.

Motivational Rock Climbing Stickers

I also began designing climbing stickers like “Climb High Stay Grounded.”

Small but meaningful.

Perfect for:

• Water bottles
• Helmets
• Gear bins
• Journals
• Cars

Stickers are affordable rock climbing gifts under $20 that allow climbers to carry the culture with them everywhere.

They may be small, but they speak loudly.

From Etsy to EmpressThings.com

Three years ago, I started on Etsy.

Today, I run my own website: EmpressThings.com.

Moving to my own platform allowed me to fully express the brand I’ve built — one rooted in community, creativity, and lived climbing experience.

This isn’t mass-produced climbing gear.

It’s handmade rock climbing accessories created by someone who:

• Managed a climbing gym
• Served on a climbing board
• Climbed with the community
• Listened to what climbers actually wanted

Every product grew from real conversations in a gym lobby, real chalk-dusted sessions, real experience.

Why I Still Create for Climbers

I didn’t start this to compete with large outdoor brands.

I started it because climbing shaped my life.

It gave me friendships.
It gave me leadership.
It gave me creativity.
It gave me resilience.

When I realized I could design custom rock climbing chalk bags that helped someone reconnect with climbing the way my husband did, I knew I had found something meaningful.

That first plush chalk bag wasn’t just gear.

It was a spark.

Now, whether it’s a handmade chalk bag, an adventure candle, or a climbing sticker, each product carries that same intention:

To add personality to the wall.
To support climbers authentically.
To create something memorable.

If you’re looking for unique rock climbing accessories made by a climber who understands the culture, I invite you to explore EmpressThings.com.

What started as one Christmas gift has grown into a global climbing journey.

And honestly, that feels like a send.