Athletic Clothing Line

4 Athletic Clothing Line Success Stories [2024]

Pat Walls

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Updated: October 6th, 2024

An athletic clothing line is a great business idea for those interested in the fitness and sports industry. The business idea is to design and manufacture high-quality athletic apparel such as t-shirts, shorts, and leggings that can be worn during workouts and sports activities.

One of the essential tips for running a successful athletic clothing line is to focus on creating high-quality products. This means using durable materials, such as moisture-wicking fabrics, and paying attention to the fit and comfort of the clothing. Another tip is to stay up-to-date on the latest trends in the athletic clothing industry, as this will help you design clothing that appeals to your target market.

Another important aspect of running a successful athletic clothing line is to have a strong marketing strategy. This can include leveraging social media and influencer marketing, attending fitness and sports events, and collaborating with fitness studios and gyms.

Finally, it’s important to have a strong customer service team in place. This includes providing excellent customer service through email, phone, and social media, as well as offering returns and exchanges if necessary.

Starting an athletic clothing line is a great business idea for those passionate about fitness and sports. By creating high-quality products, staying up-to-date on industry trends, and having a solid marketing and customer service strategy, founders can run a successful business in this line.

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

1. Hippy Feet ($1.06M/year)

While studying at the University of Wisconsin, River Falls, the founder of Hippy Feet, Michael Mader, suffered a traumatic brain injury that left him unable to work and provide for himself. Inspired by the support he received from his friends and family during his recovery, he decided to start a business that could act as a support group for individuals experiencing homelessness. This led to the creation of Hippy Feet, a sock and apparel company that provides transitional employment to homeless youth.

How much money it makes: $1.06M/year
How much did it cost to start: $30K
How many people on the team: 2

How We Bootstrapped A $720K/Year Sock And Apparel Company That Supports The Homeless Community

Hippy Feet, a Minneapolis-based sock and apparel company, has created jobs for over 160 individuals experiencing homelessness with a 6-month job readiness program and has grown 2020 revenue by 156% over 2019, using sustainable materials and practices while providing sales of custom, branded socks and apparel.

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2. Spuds ($180K/year)

Paul Dickey, the founder of Spuds, came up with the idea for his men's performance apparel company after realizing the lack of versatile clothing options for men that combine both style and performance. Fed up with having to choose between workout gear and everyday clothing, Dickey set out to create performance apparel that could be worn anywhere. Through extensive research, meetings with manufacturers, and the help of a mentor, Dickey developed his first product, The Classic Short, which focuses on fit, color, and a unique double-sided fabric.

How much money it makes: $180K/year
How many people on the team: 0

Raising $15,000 for a Cross-Functional Pair of Shorts

Spuds, a men's performance apparel company founded by Paul Dickey, successfully raised funds on Kickstarter in 2017 to create their unique Classic Short range, made with a fabric that combines style and comfort but is also packed with technology and high-performance features, and hopes to fill the gap in the market for men's activewear that looks good but also performs well.

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3. LVLS Sportswear ($60K/year)

Brandon Rogers, the founder of LVLS Sportswear, came up with the idea for his business while traveling as a basketball coach and noticing athletes cutting their compression gear for an asymmetrical leg sleeve-like style. After returning home due to the pandemic, he used his savings and unemployment checks to develop his product, the Men’s & Women’s Single Leg Tights, which beat Nike to market by 17 months. Despite being a recent college graduate with no fashion or entrepreneurial experience, Rogers has scaled his business to $5,000 a month in recurring revenue and gained interest from national retailers.

How much money it makes: $60K/year
How much did it cost to start: $3K
How many people on the team: 0

How This Solo Founder Created A $5K/Month Sportswear Brand Without Previous Experience

LVLS Sportswear founder, Brandon Rogers, has created a line of unique and high-quality sportswear inspired by his global basketball training experiences, with products selling out in a matter of months and generating over $5,000 in recurring revenue a month, attracting attention from key athletes and social media followers, with SEO and TikTok user engagement serving as key drivers of customer attraction and retention.

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4. Tula Fit ($18K/year)

Kate Johnson, a CrossFit and Pregnancy and Postpartum Athleticism Coach, started her personal training business TulaFit to fill the gap in supporting women during pregnancy and postpartum. After experiencing her own struggles with pelvic pain, low back pain, and diastasis recti, Kate became passionate about educating and empowering women with strategies that support long-term strength and function. Through workshops, coaching services, and online consultations, Kate has been able to reach and help hundreds of women.

How much money it makes: $18K/year
How many people on the team: 0

How I Started A Business Helping Mums Get In Shape During And After Pregnancy

CrossFit and Pregnancy and Postpartum Athleticism Coach, Kate Johnson, started TulaFit in 2018 to educate and empower pregnant and postpartum women with mindset and movement strategies, resulting in a growing business which has enabled her to reach hundreds of women through workshops, virtual sessions and social media interactions.

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