About Us

Owner & Founder, Deve Wolfe
Staff:  Laidee Ann Wolfe & Ann Smith

Growing up on a century old ranch in Wallowa, Deve Wolfe spent a lot of her teen years in muddy Levi’s and boots, helping the family run their sprawling cattle ranch.

As a young woman, she returned to the Wallowa Valley, armed with a nutrition degree from Oregon State University, and no idea what she wanted to do with her life.  She took a job as a server at Embers Brew House on Main Street in Joseph while she considered her options.

The Christmas of 1996 Deve was low on money, so for gifts she bought some fleece fabric and sewed fleece socks for her family and friends.  They were so comfortable and warm, everyone raved, and soon people were coming into Embers, ordering a pizza, and asking “hey, can you make me a pair of those socks?”

And a business was born.

By January 1998, Deve had enough sock customers that she thought she might have a business on her hands.  As a 25 year old, she became the youngest business owner on Main Street, renting a small space the size of a closet from another retailer.  Within three months she outgrew that space, and moved into a larger space with a new retailer.

Five expansions later, Deve is now settled permanently at 12 South Main Street, next to Valley Bronze and across from Mad Mary & Company (owned and operated by her Aunt Mary Burns).  The business, which had been built around handcrafted fleece, evolved with the times and the desires of her customers.

“Everything I learned about fashion, I’ve learned from my customers,”  Deve said, as her business grew and expanded, she responded to customer requests as she expanded. 

Since 2007, Wolfe Fleece & Clothing Company has specialized in women’s clothing, shoes and accessories from recognizable brands.  As the world of shopping becomes more and more a cookie cutter experience thanks to chains and the Internet, Wolfe Fleece & Clothing Company is a nod to the joy of doing business directly with the shop keeper, who is your neighbor and friend.