How a Self-Made Startup Is Projected to Reach $25M in Revenue Selling Men's Shorts 👖

In 2014, after Robert Felder couldn’t find shorts he liked at the mall, the University of Florida undergrad created his own. His brand, Bearbottom, which is on pace to do $25 million in sales this year, makes classic khaki shorts with a modern cut and material—a supershort inseam, stretchy waistband and soft cotton twill cloth. Felder has since expanded into polo shirts, hoodies and joggers. “We were primarily marketing to college-aged kids,” he says. “I was in school at the time and in that market, so I put out what I thought I would want to see.” To keep his clothing low-maintenance and comfortable, Felder uses graphene-treated polyester that is quick to dry, antimicrobial, antistatic, cool to the touch and offers UPF 50 sun protection. Before being offered for sale, each new item is field tested by his 20 employees in the office, who wear the sample nonstop for at least a week. Half of new buyers return for a second purchase, crushing the industry average of about 25% return customers. Felder donates a school meal in India (where his factories are located) for each item sold. The company has never taken outside funding.