Today, I wanna talk about how I messed around with this thing called “Pair of Thieves.” It all started when I was looking to do something in the apparel game, you know, clothes and stuff. I got together with my buddies, Alan Stuart and David Ehrenberg. We were just kicking ideas around, and then it hit us—socks! But not just any socks, we wanted to make cool, funky socks that stand out.
So, we got to work. We named our company “Stateside” at first, but just before we were about to launch, our lawyer tells us that name’s already taken. Bummer, right? We had to think fast, so we came up with “Pair of Thieves.” It’s kinda catchy because people always lose one sock in the dryer, you know? That’s how “Pair of Thieves” was born.
Building the Brand
We started designing socks, and let me tell you, it was a lot of trial and error. We wanted designs that were unique, colorful, and fun. We experimented with all sorts of patterns and colors. We made a bunch of prototypes, got feedback from people, and kept tweaking things until we got it just right. It was a grind, but it was also a lot of fun seeing our ideas come to life.
Facing Challenges
But it wasn’t all smooth sailing. We learned quickly that working with big wholesalers is no joke. They have a ton of demands, and it can get pretty overwhelming, especially when you’re a small startup. We had to deal with a lot of back and forth, negotiating terms, meeting deadlines, and making sure everything was up to their standards. It was tough, but it taught us a lot about the business side of things.
Expanding the Line
We didn’t stop at socks. We thought, why not expand to other basics? So, we started making underwear too. We used the same approach—focusing on quality, comfort, and cool designs. We wanted our underwear to be something people would actually enjoy wearing. Again, lots of testing, getting feedback, and refining until we had a product we were proud of.
Growing Pains
As we started to get more traction, we had to think about scaling up. That meant finding reliable manufacturers, managing inventory, and dealing with logistics. It was a whole new ball game. We made some mistakes along the way, but we learned from them and kept pushing forward.
Reaching a Milestone
It’s been about 10 years now, and we’re close to hitting $100 million in sales. It’s wild to think about how far we’ve come. To celebrate, we decided to give back. We’re donating 100,000 pairs of socks to those in need. It feels good to be able to do something positive with our success.
Reflecting on the Journey
Looking back, it’s been a crazy ride. There were definitely times when we felt like we were in over our heads. But we stuck together, worked hard, and kept our eyes on the prize. It’s amazing to see how something that started as just an idea among friends has grown into a real business. I’m proud of what we’ve built with Pair of Thieves. We set out to make the best basics on the planet, and I think we’ve done a pretty darn good job.
So, that’s my story about Pair of Thieves. It’s been a wild journey, full of ups and downs, but I wouldn’t trade it for anything. We started with a simple idea, put in the work, and made it happen. And hey, if you ever need some cool socks or comfy underwear, you know where to find them.
