When it comes to everyday wear clothing lines, women’s wear definitely has the market cornered. It’s not often you see a menswear line emerge that offers effortless style, good fit/sizing, quality, and sustainability (not to mention 5-star customer reviews). With their classic entrepreneurial success story, Bearbottom Clothing has been making an impact on the global clothing market since its 2013 inception, not only in terms of style offerings and outreach, but also in value buy and their mission of giving back.
Bearbottom aims to change how men think about their clothing with their line of stylish, eco-friendly everyday clothes. From trendy, retro-inspired button-down shirts to their new trail pants, each item from Bearbottom makes looking great easy, always with an eye on sustainability and philanthropy.
Inspired by adventure and giving back
Even though Robert Felder, Bearbottom Clothing’s Founder and CEO, grew up amid the beaches and relaxed atmosphere of Florida, the idea for Bearbottom’s ready-for-adventure-wear wasn’t born from a love for the Floridian lifestyle. Instead, Felder was inspired by a trip to Bangladesh in 2012.
It was on that trip that Felder saw first-hand the desperate need not only for high-quality and sustainable clothing, but also for secure jobs that paid a living wage. “I returned home with a desire to make an impact, and by early 2013, we started our first production in Bangladesh while donating shorts locally,” he remembers.
Those early runs of clothing were informed by “Florida wear” — as well as the needs of others in tropical climates for relaxed, durable, and stylish everyday clothing. In addition to thoughtfully designing for “endless summer” climates, Felder wanted to be of help to countries such as Bangladesh and India, which house some of the largest clothing manufacturers in the world. Bearbottom’s initial production provided lucrative job opportunities for those in areas that had previously languished in poverty.
What initially drew attention and accolades to the Bearbottom brand wasn’t only the superior quality of their clothing products, but also their innovative “buy-one-give-one” donation approach, which donates one school meal to a child in India for every piece purchased. “Through a partnership with Akshaya Patra, a leading non-profit NGO, we’ve been able to donate over 700,000 school meals to children in need in India since 2020,” says Felder.
Growing the line and their impact
Since its start in 2014, Bearbottom Clothing has only grown with no plans to slow down introducing new products and new ways to leave a positive impact on both the environment and the global community. Each item Bearbottom brings to the market is made to be the best clothes for travel — from moisture-wicking t-shirts to their new Roam Shorts, featuring a performance fabric blend for maximum comfort.
What began as a line featuring warm-weather basics has quickly become a company that offers anything the active man could need for work, travel, or vacation. As running a business becomes more costly on the heels of the pandemic and supply chain issues, Felder has guided his company and team with the customer in mind at all times.
“We’ve done everything in our power to avoid passing cost increases on to our customers,” Felder told Business Insider. Bearbottom Clothing has even pledged to not pass any cost increases on to the customer.
Bearbottom is also keeping an eye on sustainability, a consideration Felder and his team have had since the beginning. By sourcing eco-friendly fabrics and reducing fabric waste, Bearbottom is moving into the future with sustainability as a priority. As they grow, Felder is determined to stick to the principles that Bearbottom was founded upon.
Recently, Felder was featured at the Forbes Under 30 Summit, where he discussed the upward trajectory of his brand and navigating the changing retail landscape. He also talked about what sets Bearbottom apart from its competitors in the menswear space, and how his philanthropic approach and sustainable products meet the needs of today’s modern consumer, leading to him being featured in the Forbes “30 Under 30” list for 2024.
With everything Felder and his team are doing to make Bearbottom Clothing a stand-out brand, he wants the style focus to remain on adventure-ready, travel-ready, easy pieces. Each new item Bearbottom unveils keeps its aesthetic close at hand. “Bearbottom designs pieces that stand the test of time,” Felder says. “They are essentials that belong in every guy’s closet.”
Bearbottom has received raving 5-star customer reviews and continues to release new stylish essentials on its website, including new items such as the performance polo and the Cabana short (which gives major “Kenergy”). As for Felder and his team, they are excited to see where Bearbottom can go in the near future.
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