Apparel Brand

4 Apparel Brand Success Stories [2024]

Pat Walls

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Updated: October 10th, 2024

Looking to merge creativity with commerce? Start your own apparel brand. An apparel brand is simply creating and selling clothing under your own label. You'll need a strong vision, from the style and aesthetic to how you market and sell your designs.

The journey involves selecting fabrics, crafting designs, and establishing a brand identity that resonates with your target market. It’s hands-on work—think sourcing materials, liaising with manufacturers, and managing inventory. Effective marketing strategies, both online and offline, will be crucial for building a loyal customer base.

Starting an apparel brand offers the opportunity to bring your unique fashion ideas to life and dictate trends, not just follow them. If you’re drawn to the idea of seeing people wear something you created, this could be a fulfilling venture. Whether it's streetwear, eco-conscious clothing, or high fashion, the growth potential is significant for those willing to invest time and passion.

In this list, you'll find real-world apparel brand success stories and very profitable examples of starting a apparel brand that makes money.

1. Bombas ($300M/year)

David Heath and Randy Goldberg didn't plan to start a sock company. Instead, they stumbled upon the idea in 2011 when David saw a Facebook post mentioning that socks were the most requested item in homeless shelters. This surprising fact struck a chord and stayed with him.

Seeing the success of companies like TOMS and Warby Parker, which coupled product sales with charitable giving, inspired them. They wondered if a similar model could solve the sock shortage in homeless shelters by donating a pair for every pair sold.

They started by deeply researching the sock market and testing various designs. With initial skepticism from some quarters, they used feedback to refine their product, focusing on high-quality features like seamless toes and arch support. The combination of a strong social mission and a superior product won them early adopters and set the stage for success.

How much money it makes: $300M/year
How many people on the team: 312

How Bombas Built a $300M Sock Empire

Bombas co-founders David Heath and Randy Goldberg turned a $140,000 Indiegogo campaign into a $300M/year business by blending mission-driven marketing with high-quality, innovative socks, leveraging Shark Tank exposure, effective use of Facebook ads, and strategic wholesale partnerships.

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2. TomboyX ($24M/year)

Fran Dunaway, CEO and Co-Founder of TomboyX, came up with the idea for their gender-neutral underwear and loungewear company when they launched a Kickstarter campaign to fund their button-up shirt production. However, they soon realized that the name "TomboyX" was resonating with a wide audience, leading them to pivot and focus on creating boxer briefs for women, which became their hero product. With consistent revenue growth of over 100% each year, TomboyX has become a successful and inclusive lifestyle brand.

How much money it makes: $24M/year
How much did it cost to start: $40K
How many people on the team: 34

How A Gender Neutral Garment Became A $500K/Month Business

TomboyX, a gender-neutral clothing company, has consistently increased its revenue over 100% each year and expanded from zero employees to 15 in just two years by focusing on quality underwear and listening to customer feedback.

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3. Backstage Rock Shop ($2.22M/year)

Matti Lehtonen, the founder of Backstage Rock Shop, got the idea for his business while playing in a rock band and handling their merchandise. He noticed that existing merchandising companies in Finland were doing things wrong, so he and three friends started Backstage Rock Shop with the goal of being the best, most artist-friendly merchandise company in the country. Since then, they have grown significantly, with annual revenue now reaching over $2 million.

How much money it makes: $2.22M/year
How much did it cost to start: $40K
How many people on the team: 5

How I Started A $150K/Month Business Selling Rock Bands Official Merchandise

Case study on Backstage Rock Shop, which grew from $150k annual revenue in its first year to looking at $2M+ revenue in 2020, selling rock bands' official merchandise in over 80 countries, with a growing roster of artists, exclusive items, and a focus on premium quality and customer service.

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4. Oliver Charles ($1.2M/year)

Slater McLean, the co-founder of Oliver Charles, was inspired to create eco-friendly sweaters made from seaweed and Yak wool after growing up in the mountains of Colorado and experiencing the need for durable, high-performing clothes that were also sustainable. Through their research, they discovered the properties of Yak wool and decided to build a sustainable company that offered versatile, high-quality sweaters. Since launching their first sweater on Indiegogo in 2020, they have doubled the size of their business each year without any outside investment.

How much money it makes: $1.2M/year
How much did it cost to start: $20K
How many people on the team: 0

Our Journey From Being Childhood Classmates To Building A $25K/Month Sustainable Winter Clothing Business

Oliver Charles, a sustainable sweater company made from seaweed and yak wool, has doubled their business since launching their first sweater on Indiegogo in 2020 with no outside investment, and plans to personalize their products like ordering a burrito.

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