Nester Hosiery, the parent company of the Fox River, Pistil Designs, and Anywear Essentials brands, has appointed Darren Glassman as general manager of Pistil, the active outdoor accessories brand, headquartered in Hood River, OR.
Glassman will officially rejoin the Pistil Designs team on April 15, alongside his former business partner, Pete Hixson, who transitioned to Pistil Designs during Nester’s acquisition of the company in July 2025.
Glassman is returning to Pistil after spending over a decade with the brand as a former partner and head of sales, where he helped build the business. During his tenure, Glassman managed all external sales agencies and oversaw key accounts and merchandising strategies. He also stewarded 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,” said CEO Kelly 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.”
“The opportunity to return to Pistil is, in itself, very exciting,” said 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 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.
In his new role as GM at Pistil Designs, Glassman will be responsible for P&L and overseeing the brand’s salesforce and merchandising strategies to grow sales across multiple channels and expand wholesale distribution.
Based in Mount Airy, NC, Nester is a manufacturer of 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.
Images courtesy Pistil Designs
