When Eric Hui moved from Hawaii to Boston, he couldn't find the right winter jacket. He wanted something that would be comfortable to wear around town, but tough and durable enough for weekend ski trips. So he decided to make his own.
In 2016, Hui, a graduate of Northeastern, started Terracean apparel company that focuses on outerwear that can be worn in the office and outdoors.
“Our position is to make everyday clothing that is still technical enough to be worn for snow sports,” says Hui.
At Northeastern, Hui majored in supply chain management. He says the MBA program helped prepare him for running his own business. “I learned about budget balancing, international shipping, customs duties and warehousing,” says Hui. “The MBA program definitely prepared me.”
Hui says that expensive, high-end jackets made for intense outdoor excursions
Photo by Matthew Modoono/Northeastern University
they tend to be waterproof and warm, but not practical for everyday use. Low-end, casual winter jackets, on the other hand, aren't waterproof enough to survive a weekend of skiing, he says.
Hui says his company occupies a middle ground between these options. But how does one make a jacket strong enough to handle snow sports, yet comfortable enough for urban life?
Hui's solution: Combine two sets of requirements. First, his jackets must be waterproof with fully taped seams, windproof and insulated. This makes it easy to stay warm and dry. Second, Hui focuses on breathing, stretching, and stillness.
Hui says many clothing companies don't think much about the noise jackets make. When he worked at the State Street Corporation in Boston, he hated the loud noise the Velcro fasteners on his jacket made in the office. So when he created Terracea, he decided to incorporate magnets to keep the jackets quiet.
“Why do you have one jacket that you only wear on weekends and another for weekdays?” says Hui. “A great jacket should be able to travel with you, wherever you go.”
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