16 Men's Clothing Line Success Stories [2024]
Men’s fashion is an increasingly popular niche. Market research has revealed that the growth of the menswear market has outpaced that of the women’s market.
The market growth is likely credited to a cultural shift as more men focus on their appearances than before.
If you want to start a men-focused fashion line, 2024 presents the best opportunity. Men’s wear offers a wide variety of products, which increases the growth potential. To start a men’s clothing line, start by thinking about your clothing brand’s identity.
Then, identify the target market and understand what the customers want. The success of your men’s clothing brand depends on your marketing strategy.
You can reach a wider market with a mix of online and traditional marketing strategies.
In this list, you'll find real-world men's clothing line success stories and very profitable examples of starting a men's clothing line that makes money.
1. STOCK ($3.6M/year)
Jim Snediker, CEO of Stock Manufacturing Company, pivoted from high-end menswear to B2B uniforms after being approached by a Michelin-star restaurant in 2013. This strategic shift propelled their business to $3.4 million in revenue by 2023.
How much money it makes: $3.6M/year
How many people on the team: 11
Case study on the transformation of a D2C menswear brand into a successful B2B uniform provider for hospitality industry giants, achieving revenue growth from $700k in 2019 to $3.4M in 2023, through strategic collaborations, product expansion, and community-driven initiatives during the COVID-19 pandemic.
2. I Love Ugly ($3.6M/year)
Valentin Ozich, the Founder of I Love Ugly, started the men's premium streetwear brand in 2008 with zero experience in business or fashion. He identified a gap in the market for high quality, affordable streetwear catered to men and sold primarily online. Despite setbacks and his lack of skills at the beginning, Ozich was determined to succeed and turned his idea into a multi-million dollar business.
How much money it makes: $3.6M/year
How many people on the team: 20
This case study showcases how Valentin Ozich built an online menswear brand, I Love Ugly, from scratch with a clear vision of creating premium streetwear catered to men that's affordable and sold primarily online, with some products selling upwards of 50,000 units/pieces globally and still remain some of the strongest sellers today.
3. Lucasgift ($1.2M/year)
After moving to the U.S., Taha's father started sewing leather items to make ends meet. In 2017, they opened an Etsy shop selling personalized leather keychains, which quickly grew to a $100k/mo business.
How much money it makes: $1.2M/year
How much did it cost to start: $70K
How many people on the team: 7
Discover how a mechanical engineering major and his dad scaled a personalized gift business to $100k/mo revenue mainly through selling personalized leather keychains with over 10,000 reviews and a 4.9-star rating, proving the power of differentiation and pricing strategies in a competitive market.
4. RomperJack ($720K/year)
RomperJack founder, Justin Clark, came up with the idea for his men's romper business after seeing the explosive success of a Kickstarter campaign for men's rompers. Recognizing the lack of competition and the potential for product-market fit, Justin quickly gathered funding and launched RomperJack, which has since grown to generate $60k per month in sales. Through strategic marketing on platforms like Facebook and Instagram, RomperJack has been able to attract and retain customers, solidifying its presence in the market.
How much money it makes: $720K/year
How many people on the team: 1
RomperJack is a men's apparel company that sells men’s rompers and jumpsuits and has averaged 60% month-to-month growth in 2019, with 45,000 monthly visitors, a 2.4% conversion rate, 15,000 email subscribers, and a 24% return customer rate.
5. Leze Apparel Inc. ($540K/year)
out of debt. In just 6 months, we have managed to turn our business around and are projected to generate 3 times more revenue than in 2019. We have experienced steady growth at a rate of 30% every month and have successfully attracted a community of women who resonate with our mission of comfortable and sustainable workwear.
How much money it makes: $540K/year
How much did it cost to start: $5K
How many people on the team: 0
This case study features LEZE the Label, a sustainable workwear brand that experienced 30% month-over-month growth and eliminated $180,000 in production debt, sharing insights on their crowdfunding strategy, customer-centric approach, and partnerships.
6. Knee Deep Limited LLC ($480K/year)
Garret "Buddy" Lamp and Taylor "Earl" Nees co-founded Muff Waders after Earl woke up to find a drawing he made during a night out back in 2017. Initially shared as a joke, they saw potential and now average $3,600 in sales per month, featuring a six-pack cooler in the bibs.
How much money it makes: $480K/year
How much did it cost to start: $34K
How many people on the team: 0
Muff Waders is a fun yet practical product that combines bibs for working outdoors with additional features such as insulated coolers, concealed pockets and a bottle opener; since launching in September 2019, they have been averaging $3,600 a month in sales.
7. Million Dollar Collar ($480K/year)
Rob Kessler came up with the idea for Million Dollar Collar after being disappointed with the way his shirt looked in his wedding photos. He started cutting open dress shirts and testing materials until he developed a material that could handle the heat of dry-cleaning and be permanently installed in dress shirts. Through trial and error and feedback from customers, Kessler perfected the design and launched the business in January 2016, eventually using YouTube fashion influencers and targeted advertising to attract and retain customers.
How much money it makes: $480K/year
How much did it cost to start: $100K
How many people on the team: 0
Rob Kessler, co-founder of Million Dollar Collar, invented the world's first permanently installed placket stay for dress shirts that has already helped people in 100 countries upgrade 200,000 of their own dress shirts, with aims of changing the dress shirt industry as a whole.
8. MuskOx ($360K/year)
Brad Hoos, founder of MuskOx, came up with the idea for his men's clothing line by realizing that men needed more thoughtful gear to simplify their lives. He sought out the expertise of a designer and together they created high-quality, functional clothing that is fitting for everyday adventures. Since their launch, MuskOx has grown a significantly supportive customer base and has developed partnerships to support wildlife conservation.
How much money it makes: $360K/year
How much did it cost to start: $50K
How many people on the team: 4
MuskOx, a men's outdoor apparel brand created in 2019, has gained a supportive customer base and already generated $10k in monthly revenue, offering quality gear for everyday adventure that is designed to last.
9. Lawrence Hunt ($240K/year)
Jeff Schattner, the founder of Lawrence Hunt Fashion, came up with the idea for his business when he was sweating uncomfortably at a friend's outdoor wedding and couldn't find a dress shirt that combined both professional and performance wear. After extensively researching the market and experimenting with prototypes, he launched Lawrence Hunt Fashion in 2016. Since then, the company has steadily grown, reaching over $20,000 per month in revenue, and has attracted endorsements from professional athletes like James McCann and Sterling Shepard.
How much money it makes: $240K/year
How many people on the team: 2
Lawrence Hunt Fashion uses a balance of performance and professional wear to create sweat-wicking dress shirts, reaching $20,000/month in revenue in 2019 and expanding into corporate apparel and a membership program in 2020.
10. Bad Ass Work Gear ($180K/year)
Paul Chittenden, the founder of Bad Ass Work Gear, came up with the idea for his business while working in the oil and gas industry. He realized that there was a need for tough, heavy-duty bags that could withstand the harsh conditions of the job. After experiencing the lack of durability in traditional bags, he decided to create his own line of work gear that would last longer than competitors' products. With initial growth driven by word of mouth, Bad Ass Work Gear has become a go-to brand for blue-collar workers in various industries.
How much money it makes: $180K/year
How many people on the team: 1
A former oil rig worker founded Bad Ass Work Gear to create heavy duty work gear that can withstand the harsh environments of the oil and gas industry, diversifying into firefighter gear as well, with 2018 and 2019 averaging about $15,000 per month in revenue.
11. Suits Expert ($120K/year)
Alex noticed that men who wore suits had trouble matching them with other garments. So, in 2016, he created Suits Expert as a side hustle in his quest to provide expert guidance on suits and teach men how to dress better.
How much money it makes: $120K/year
How many people on the team: 5
Suits Expert Founder Alexander Stoicoff teaches men how to find and wear suits, generating an average of $10K/month and $120K/year with a growth strategy based on SEO, YouTube videos, and email marketing.
12. Crooked Branch Studio ($30K/year)
Paul Kaster, the founder of Crooked Branch Studio and Carbon Cravat, came up with the idea for his business in 2015 when he received a wooden bow tie as a gift. Dissatisfied with the execution, he believed he could make a better one and started experimenting with designs. After successfully selling a few wooden bow ties on Etsy, he launched a Kickstarter campaign at the age of 16 to refine his design and gain publicity. Since then, he has expanded his business and now earns a passive income of around $1000 per month with minimal upkeep.
How much money it makes: $30K/year
How many people on the team: 0
Crooked Branch Studio owner, Paul Kaster, shares how he turned a handcrafted wooden bow tie business into a self-running income stream that generates $1000/month in profit with minimal upkeep through outsourcing and diversifying revenue.
13. FLXCUF ($24K/year)
Jay Fuller came up with the idea for FLXCUF while working behind a bar and constantly struggling with his shirt sleeves rolling down. He initially tried using rubber bands as a temporary fix but realized there could be a better solution. Inspired by the concept of a flex collar in a Van Heusen shirt, Jay came up with the idea for flexible shirt cuffs that expand as they go up the arm.
How much money it makes: $24K/year
How much did it cost to start: $2K
How many people on the team: 0
FLXCUF, a dress shirt sleeve solution designed to hold up sleeves in one fold, has seen sales growth since its launch 3 years ago, and has secured placement in two boutique retailers, all while using influencer marketing and cross-promoting to maximize collaborations.
14. DULO ($14.8K/year)
DULO founders Julian and Marin were inspired by companies in the US that created formal wear from performance fabrics. Frustrated by shipping costs and import duties, they decided to create their own dress shirts using Bulgaria's expertise in tailoring and manufacturing, launching their webshop in November 2017.
How much money it makes: $14.8K/year
How many people on the team: 0
DULO founders Julian and Marin bootstrapped their dress shirt business and launched in November 2017, with their biggest driver of sales being personal interactions and word-of-mouth, attracting customers with a return rate of 0%, and plans including increasing Facebook Ads.
15. Be Kind Apparel ($5.4K/year)
to look. We wanted it to be clean, simple, and user-friendly. We wanted our logo to be prominent and for customers to easily navigate through the different product options. It took us about a week to design and build the website, and we made sure to include high-quality product photos to showcase our clothing.
How much money it makes: $5.4K/year
How much did it cost to start: $3.6K
How many people on the team: 1
Be Kind Apparel is an ethical and sustainable Irish leisurewear brand that focuses on spreading kindness and supporting mental health, selling tee shirts, hoodies, and sweatshirts in a variety of colors and sizes with recycled materials being used in production and 5% of profits donated to local charities, making a profit of 450 euros per month.
16. Boystrous ($1.8K/year)
Anastasia Osindero, a designer, launched her menswear brand, Boystrous, during the COVID-19 lockdown in August 2020. Inspired by her partner's desire for a consistent men's clothing store, she created graphic t-shirts using her design skills and printed them at home. With popular designs and the support of influencers such as Josh Denzel, Boystrous quickly gained attention and success.
How much money it makes: $1.8K/year
How much did it cost to start: $126
How many people on the team: 0
Boystrous is a rising menswear brand launched during the pandemic, which commenced with an assortment of graphic t-shirts attracting worldwide influencers and an impressive 90% traffic increase on social media platforms through using a paid advertisement strategy.
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Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
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