8 Outdoor Apparel Brand Success Stories [2024]
The thrill of the outdoors meets the business world with an outdoor apparel brand.
Creating an outdoor apparel brand involves designing and selling clothing tailored for outdoor activities like hiking, camping, and climbing. The focus is on durable, weather-resistant materials and practical designs that appeal to adventure enthusiasts.
This business is ideal for those passionate about the outdoors and fashion. You'll need to understand current market trends, source high-quality materials, and potentially collaborate with manufacturers. Initial efforts will revolve around creating a unique brand identity and connecting with your target audience through effective marketing strategies.
If you have the drive to merge your outdoor lifestyle with your entrepreneurial spirit, starting an outdoor apparel brand can be both fulfilling and financially rewarding. The industry offers ample opportunities to innovate and create gear that people will love and rely on in their adventures.
In this list, you'll find real-world outdoor apparel brand success stories and very profitable examples of starting a outdoor 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
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.
2. Glade Optics ($1.5M/year)
Curt Nichols started Glade Optics as a side project while working at a market research company. He saw an opportunity to create a challenger brand in the skiing industry due to a lack of competition and a common marketing approach. With just $5,000 in savings, he launched the business, and it has since grown to close to $1 million in annual sales. Nichols focused on building a strong product-market fit and used tactics like email marketing and targeted advertising to attract and retain customers. Glade Optics is now a profitable business experiencing over 100% YoY growth.
How much money it makes: $1.5M/year
How much did it cost to start: $5K
How many people on the team: 3
Glade Optics is a premium ski goggles and helmets brand that achieved close to $1M in annual sales with just $5,000 to start, using a favorable price point, streamlined messaging and marketing, and partnering with like-minded brands to lower CACs and get in front of more skiers.
3. Hammock Sky ($960K/year)
TCM, the owners of Hammock Sky, bought the brand from its original owner, who was an American expat living in Thailand. The original owner had a vision to share the experience of extreme relaxation with people everywhere, leading to the creation of premium quality, spacious hammocks. TCM recognized the brand's values and purchased the business in 2017, experiencing great success with over $2.4 million in revenue and more than 44,000 units sold in 2020.
How much money it makes: $960K/year
How much did it cost to start: $49
How many people on the team: 100
Hammock Sky, owned by TCM, has increased sales to $2.4M through producing larger, higher quality hammocks and hammock chairs that cater to everyone’s relaxation needs and promoting greater customer loyalty and engaging with influencers on various online platforms.
4. 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.
5. 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.
6. Outdoor Adventure Solutions Inc Shower Toga ($300K/year)
Kressa, the founder of Shower Toga, came up with the idea for her waterproof changing garment after struggling to clean up after Spartan Races. Realizing there was no efficient solution, she invented the Shower Toga and launched a successful Kickstarter campaign to bring it to the mass market. Despite having no prior experience in retail or product development, Kressa persevered and created a high-quality, lightweight, and versatile product that has since gained popularity in outdoor and healthcare industries.
How much money it makes: $300K/year
How much did it cost to start: $30K
How many people on the team: 0
Shower Toga, the world's first and only waterproof changing garment, invented by Kressa, has found success in the outdoor hygiene market, with notable sales to camping, surfing, and healthcare workers for decon, and the company recently donated $100,000 in Shower Togas to healthcare workers and first responders.
7. Silent Pursuit ($24K/year)
Cody, a 24-year-old entrepreneur and avid hunter, developed the idea for Silent Pursuit, his hunting moccasin business, after a disappointing hunting experience where his worn-out socks jeopardized his stalk. Unsatisfied with the existing products on the market, Cody spent 9 months designing, prototyping, and manufacturing his own hunting moccasins, which are both affordable and effective in reducing noise. With a successful launch and plans to expand into apparel and accessories, Cody's dream of making Silent Pursuit a household name in the hunting industry is well on its way to becoming a reality.
How much money it makes: $24K/year
How much did it cost to start: $14K
How many people on the team: 0
Silent Pursuit is a hunting industry startup that sells deer stalking/hunting moccasins designed to reduce noise and increase comfort while hunting, with a successful launch that brought in around $2k per month, and plans to expand their product line and improve online sales with efficient marketing on Facebook and Google.
8. Rainier Watch ($23.8K/year)
David, a full-time Front End Developer, came up with the idea for his business, Rainier Watch, when he realized there was no online platform to track the visibility of Mount Rainier, a beloved mountain in the Greater Seattle area. He started a Twitter account to post daily updates on the mountain's visibility, which gained a following. Eventually, he decided to turn it into a business by selling stickers and expanding the product line to include shirts, hats, and more.
How much money it makes: $23.8K/year
How much did it cost to start: $300
How many people on the team: 0
Rainier Watch is an outdoor-inspired apparel brand that grew from selling stickers to generating several thousand dollars in sales each month through its custom Woocommerce website, as a community-driven business for quality goods inspired by mountains, donating to organizations protecting and supporting the National Parks upon purchase.
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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.
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