Nester Welcomes Darren Glassman as General Manager of Pistil Designs

April 8, 2026

Industry veteran and former Pistil partner returns to lead the active lifestyle accessories brand following its 2025 acquisition

Mount Airy, NC – April 8, 2026 /OUTDOOR SPORTSWIRE/ – Nester announced today the appointment of Darren Glassman as General Manager of Pistil Designs, the active outdoor lifestyle accessories brand headquartered in Hood River, Oregon. On April 15th, Glassman will officially rejoin the Pistil Designs team alongside his former business partner, Pete Hixson, who transitioned with Pistil Designs during the acquisition by Nester in July 2025. This addition of Glassman to the team will mark a full-circle homecoming for someone who helped shape the brand in its earliest days.

Glassman is returning to Pistil Designs after spending more than a decade with the brand as a former partner and head of sales, where he helped build the business from the ground up. During his tenure, Glassman managed all external sales agencies, and oversaw key accounts and merchandising strategies, helping guide the brand through a period of rapid growth and expansion into new distribution channels. He also stewarded a series of strategic partnerships that culminated in the brand’s sale to Fox River Mills, which was subsequently acquired by Nester in 2025.

“Darren and I go back to his days running the socks and accessories category at Icebreaker,” says Kelly Nester, CEO of Nester. “We’ve had a lot of fun together in this industry, and I have tremendous respect for what he brings to the table. Having him lead Pistil Designs feels like the right fit at exactly the right time, and we’re thrilled to welcome him into the Nester family.”

Now, with Pistil fully integrated under the Nester umbrella, Glassman returns not only to a brand he helped build, but to a community of colleagues and retail partners he has long called friends.

“The opportunity to return to Pistil is, in itself, very exciting,” says Glassman. “The brand has maintained a meaningful position in the active outdoor lifestyle channel for more than two decades, projects the beauty and style of our beloved home in the Pacific Northwest, and remains poised for further, substantial growth. Even more so, I am truly thrilled to rekindle deep relationships with my dear friends within the Pistil and Nester families, as well as the many retail partners and friends who have supported the brand’s success for more than 23 years.”

Prior to his time at Pistil Designs, Glassman was the Global General Manager of socks and accessories at Icebreaker, the New Zealand-based merino wool sportswear brand. During his time there, he held full P&L responsibility for these categories, overseeing sales teams across 37 countries, realizing substantial growth. He collaborated closely with product designers and developers, merchants, and manufacturers worldwide to build a winning commercial roadmap informed by deep market insights.

In his new role as General Manager at Pistil Designs, Glassman will hold P&L responsibility and oversee the brand’s salesforce and merchandising strategies to grow sales across multiple channels and expand wholesale distribution.

To learn more about Nester visit www.nesterhosiery.com and for more information on Pistil Designs visit www.pistildesigns.com. Media inquiries should email Angie Robinson, angie@darbycommunications.com.

About Nester

Based in Mount Airy, North Carolina, Nester is a leading manufacturer of high-performance merino wool socks and accessories. The company’s family of brands includes Farm to Feet®, Fox River®, Pistil®, and Anywear Essentials®, alongside a broad portfolio of private label, OEM, and licensed offerings that serve major retailers and specialty brands globally. Nester is also an established supplier to the U.S. government, committed to providing the comfort, durability, and performance demanded by those who serve. With more than 30 years of vertically integrated, U.S.-based manufacturing, Nester is recognized for its unwavering commitment to sustainability, performance, and product excellence.

Contact: Angie Robinson

Darby Communications

angie@darbycommunications.com