24 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.
Here are some real life success stories of starting a men's clothing line:
1. 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 they make: $3.6M/year
Current team size: 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.
2. 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 they make: $180K/year
Current team size: 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.
So... can you actually make money with a men's clothing line?
Of course. There are millions to be made in this industry.
But how?
- Research real, profitable businesses and see exactly how much money they make.
- Study exactly what works, and what doesn’t.
- Take action, because now you have the roadmap.
Join Starter Story and build your next big thing:
3. 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 they make: $720K/year
Current team size: 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.
4. 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 they make: $1.8K/year
How much did it cost to start: $126
Current team size: 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.
So... can you actually make money with a men's clothing line?
Of course. There are millions to be made in this industry.
But how?
- Research real, profitable businesses and see exactly how much money they make.
- Study exactly what works, and what doesn’t.
- Take action, because now you have the roadmap.
Join Starter Story and build your next big thing:
5. 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 they make: $240K/year
Current team size: 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.
6. 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 they make: $30K/year
Current team size: 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.
So... can you actually make money with a men's clothing line?
Of course. There are millions to be made in this industry.
But how?
- Research real, profitable businesses and see exactly how much money they make.
- Study exactly what works, and what doesn’t.
- Take action, because now you have the roadmap.
Join Starter Story and build your next big thing:
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 they make: $480K/year
How much did it cost to start: $100K
Current team size: 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. 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 they make: $14.8K/year
Current team size: 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.
9. Butter Cloth ($6M/year)
How much they make: $6M/year
Current team size:
A founder's journey from partnering with Metta World Peace, getting funding on Shark Tank, and overcoming an uncomfortable problem, leading their clothing company Buttercloth to $6 million in sales.
10. Voonik ($34.2M/year)
Navaneetha Krishnan and Sujayath Ali founded Voonik to revolutionize the fashion shopping experience in India. With over 1 million downloads and a million transactions per month, their app caters to both men and women, offering customized clothing options based on physique, personality, lifestyle, and budget.
How much they make: $34.2M/year
Current team size: 210
Voonik- India's fastest-growing fashion shopping app, offers a personalized shopping experience for women with over 1M downloads, more than a million transactions completed each month and desktop website launched in March 2013.
11. Chubbies ($44.1M/year)
Skilled in the art of producing and marketing clothing, Tom Montgomery, Preston Rutherford, Hency, and Ranier Castillo started menswear brand Chubbies in 2011. Since its founding, the brand has experienced exponential growth, increasing its net sales from $2.4 million in 2012 to an impressive $44.1 million in 2020. Learn more about their success story on Medium.
How much they make: $44.1M/year
Current team size: 110
Men's clothing brand Chubbies has experienced impressive growth, increasing its net sales from $2.4 million to $44.1 million since 2012, thanks in part to the founders' skills in production and marketing.
12. Portland Gear ($1.44M/year)
After building a strong and engaged community on Instagram, Marcus Harvey saw an opportunity to create a brand that resonated with Portland residents. Leveraging his background in garment design and branding, he launched Portland Gear on Black Friday in 2014, aiming to provide quality menswear items and accessories that foster a sense of community in the city.
How much they make: $1.44M/year
How much did it cost to start: $500
Current team size: 15
This case study showcases how Portland Gear founder Marcus Harvey leveraged his Instagram community to build a successful retail clothing store offering quality menswear items and accessories.
13. Urbanity Shop ($1.22M/year)
How much they make: $1.22M/year
Current team size: 7
This case study showcases an entrepreneur who created a thriving boutique store for both men's and women's clothing, footwear, and accessories, with renowned brands such as Nike, Billionaire Boys Club, and Herschel available under one roof.
14. Lunya ($25M/year)
Ashley Merrill, the founder and CEO of Lunya, came up with the idea for her upscale sleepwear company in 2012, focusing on using upscale materials and emphasizing body-flattering cuts for both men and women. Since its launch, Lunya has seen impressive growth, with a year-over-year increase of 500%. Listen to the full podcast on storybehindthebrand.libsyn.com to learn more about Lunya's success.
How much they make: $25M/year
How much did it cost to start: $50K
Current team size: 61
Lunya, an upscale sleepwear company founded by Ashley Merrill, has grown Year over Year by an incredible 500%, offering stylish and comfortable sleepwear and rest wear for both men and women.
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 they make: $5.4K/year
How much did it cost to start: $3.6K
Current team size: 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. MealSurfers ($60K/year)
How much they make: $60K/year
Current team size:
This case study highlights how a men's apparel company founded by Paul in California successfully raised $15,000 through Kickstarter.
17. 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 they make: $360K/year
How much did it cost to start: $50K
Current team size: 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.
18. 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 they make: $24K/year
How much did it cost to start: $2K
Current team size: 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.
19. Under Armour ($5.7B/year)
How much they make: $5.7B/year
Current team size: 10136
Under Armour, the American sports equipment and sports apparel manufacturing company, started from scratch in 1996 with an initial product of a synthetic base layer that wicks away sweat, and has since expanded their range to include football, cross-training, and running shoes, with 2019 revenues of $5.27 billion.
20. Bonobos ($150M/year)
How much they make: $150M/year
Current team size: 503
Bonobos, a unique men's clothing brand founded by Brian Spaly and Andy Dunn, was acquired by Walmart for $310 million after Dunn invested his 401k money to launch the website and secure a round of angel funding from venture capitalists and Stanford professors.
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- 8,628 business ideas
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- 4,818 founder case studies
- Access to our founder directory
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- 8,628 business ideas
- $1M in software savings
- 4,818 founder case studies
- Access to our founder directory
- Live events, courses and recordings
- 8,628 business ideas
- $1M in software savings
- 4,818 founder case studies
- Access to our founder directory
- Live events, courses and recordings
- 8,628 business ideas
- $1M in software savings
- 4,818 founder case studies
- Access to our founder directory
- Live events, courses and recordings
- 8,628 business ideas
- $1M in software savings
- 4,818 founder case studies
- Access to our founder directory
- Live events, courses and recordings
- 8,628 business ideas
- $1M in software savings
- 4,818 founder case studies
- Access to our founder directory
- Live events, courses and recordings
- 8,628 business ideas
- $1M in software savings
