Posted by Diego Echeverri, US Army Veteran, co-founder of Bull and Moose
Editor's note: As 11/11 rolls around each year, we’re reminded of the veterans who selflessly serve our nation with great honor. We’re especially inspired by the veterans who return to civilian life to build successful small businesses — the engine of our economy. To celebrate those who serve our country in more ways than one, we sat down with vet-run companies to learn the stories behind their vision, the influence of the military on their business philosophy, and their advice for aspiring veteran entrepreneurs. Here, we hear from Diego Echeverri, US Army Veteran and co-founder of Bull and Moose, which provides luxury, quality neckwear at a disruptive and fair price point.
The military sometimes inspires and influences in unexpected ways. For me, the Army taught me the self-discipline and leadership skills that ultimately prepared me to start my own business — but that didn’t surprise me. What I didn’t expect was the way I began to adopt the military’s belief in the power of a physical impression and the importance of pride in one’s appearance. As ambassadors of our country, we represent our country physically in more ways than one and must look as sharp in our suits as we act in the field. And so, 13 years after enlisting in the aftermath of 9/11, and 10 years after I deployed to Afghanistan, I started Bull and Moose, a company that provides military-inspired, fashionable neckwear for men.
Fashion has actually taken quite a few cues from the military over the years: trenchcoats, blazers, military boots and bomber jackets are staples of historical military outfits and lynchpins of the classic, preppy American wardrobe. When I started Bull and Moose, I launched with a product that perfectly married my bond with the military and my passion for high quality clothing: a camouflage bow tie. Another one of our first pieces, the DC Metro pocket square, was inspired by the maps the military printed out on silk for infantrymen, which lasted far longer than the paper maps they used before. We just launched a new tie, the Sergeant, that’s built from the same 3M reflective yarn that was woven into the belts we wore for safety in the Army.
The military doesn’t just inspire our product design; it defines our company and brand and has been a part of our DNA from the start. We sponsor Got Your 6, a campaign that helps drive the conversation and public perception that veterans can be leaders and civic assets. We also donate a portion of our profits to fund micro loans on Kiva. We’re a for-profit, but I’m driven by the knowledge that the more we sell, the more we can give back to the veteran community.
Sometimes the best kind of support a vet needs is just another vet to talk to, and what’s great about vets in business is there’s a close-knit network where someone always has your back. We come back from the military with a mixed bag of strengths and weaknesses, so navigating the entrepreneurial maze requires a lot of thinking, learning and changing. For some, the biggest challenge is shaking off the formality; for others, it’s adapting to ambiguity and navigating without a clear chain of command. At the same time, with vets, there’s no “can’t” — there’s always a way — and you learn that you’re capable of things you could never have imagined. Having other vets to talk to about those difficulties and successes — or just shipping or social media strategy — is huge.
Bull and Moose isn’t all about the military, and most of our products aren’t camo or built from 3M, but being a veteran and supporting other veterans is an undeniable part of our brand. I’m just as motivated to run a successful business as I am to help other vets and prove to the broader community that vets can do some amazing things. This generation in particular faces a daunting challenge: in addition to transitioning to a civilian world that doesn’t necessarily value their specific experience skills, they face the public perception that they’re inherently flawed. I know that’s not true, and I know how passionate and impactful they can be. And it’s my mission to ensure that vets are essential to society’s fabric as they are for our military.
