9 Fashion start-ups from Shark Tank that really caught our eye

Fashion start-ups from Shark Tank continue to thrive, growing their brands and redefining industry trends. From novelty holiday sweaters to gender-neutral clothing and body-sculpting swimwear, these businesses have transformed innovative ideas into lasting successful businesses. While some made lucrative deals with the Sharks, others leveraged their TV exposure to take their brands to another level.

What differentiates these fashion start-ups is their capacity for innovation and resilience. Some brands concentrate on practicality, such as satin-lined hoodies that protect natural hair or comfortable dress shirts, that are meant to be worn throughout the day. Others prioritize social responsibilities and causes, including donating items with each sale or promoting inclusivity with varied sizing. Whether they're redefining activewear, sustainable fashion, or day-to-day basics, these brands have managed to differentiate themselves in a constantly evolving industry.

From viral holiday wear to high-performance athleisure, these ten brands have made a lasting impact on the fashion industry. Let's take a closer look at the Shark Tank start-ups that are still making waves.

Tipsy Elves

Introduced in the year 2011, Tipsy Elves drew all the attention for its unique holiday-themed apparel collection, especially the funky and funny kind of "ugly" Christmas sweaters. The wild and fun approach of the brand towards holiday fashion caught the attention of Robert Herjavec, who dished out a whopping $100,000 for a 10% piece of the company in the year 2013. Since then, Tipsy Elves have included ski suits, patriotic costumes, and accessories in the inventory of products. As of today, it holds the position of being one of the greatest success stories in fashion on Shark Tank, raking in millions in terms of revenues.

Bombas

Bombas is not just a clothing brand; it’s a mission-driven company. It started by producing the finest quality and ultra-comfy socks and later introduced T-shirts as its collection. For each item sold, the company donates a piece of clothing to a homeless shelter. As a result, it impressed Daymond John, which led him to put up $200,000 for 17.5% of the company in 2014. Since then, Bombas has grown more and they have donated over 100 million clothing items, which is still counting. It has emerged as a booming multimillion-dollar business.

Red Dress Boutique

Red Dress Boutique is a contemporary fashion brand with a strong lineup for women that is capitalizing on the online shopping trend. In 2014, founder Diana Harbour accepted a $1.2 million deal from Mark Cuban and Robert Herjavec. The investment further helped the company improve its e-commerce operations and expand its collection. With a strong online presence, the brand excelled in offering trendy yet affordable fashion and successfully building a loyal customer base. Hence, these decisions helped the brand to sustain growth in the digital retail space.

KIN Apparel

KIN Apparel is a brand that not only features style but also features hair care. Satin-lined hoodies made by the brand aim to preserve natural hair from frizz and breakage. It sells well to customers looking for comfort and utility in a single fashion piece. Founded by Philomina Kane, the brand was pitched in 2021 and went on to snag $200,000 from Emma Grede and Lori Greiner. Nowadays, KIN Apparel also manufactures hats, pillowcases, and blankets, which means the innovation in fashion is not only limited to aesthetics but also to functionality.

Butter Cloth

Butter Cloth, a clothing brand, has completely redefined business casual attire by creating an ultra-soft, breathable dress shirt, that are as comfy as a T-shirt. Formerly a designer in the fashion field, Danh Tran pitched the business on Season 10, asking Sharks for $250,000 in exchange for a 10 percent stake. Impressed with the unique blend of stretch and softness in the fabric, the Sharks felt it was a good business to invest in. Butter Cloth, among other brands, is focusing on this market to deliver attire to professionals seeking style without discomfort. Since the show, the brand has expanded by adding polos and casual wear, further deepening its roots in the industry.

Spergo

Spergo, a highly empowering and confidence-inspiring luxury streetwear brand, is the brainchild of teenage entrepreneur, Trey Brown. Trey launched the business at the age of 12, using birthday money to buy and sell shirts. The dedication was immediately rewarded with sales growth, which attracted the attention of business mogul Daymond John, who invested $300,000 in exchange for 20% of the company. Spergo has become increasingly popular, starting with exposure on television. As a result, it has secured endorsements from celebrities, which has further boosted its reputation. Additionally, the brand has grown its presence in major retail stores, forming significant partnerships to expand its reach.

Collars & Co.

Collars & Co. presented a dynamic change in men's fashion. The brand combined the stiff structure of a dress shirt collar with a comfortable polo silhouette. Founder Justin Baer pitched his innovative brand on Shark Tank, sharing his thoughts regarding how irritating stiff, uncomfortable dress shirts were. It led him to start a business reinventing polo shirts. The Sharks, Mark Cuban and Peter Jones, were impressed by his pitch and made a $300,000 deal for a 10% stake. Since then, Collars & Co. has broadened its offerings and become the brand of choice for professionals seeking stylish, comfortable, and versatile additions to their wardrobe.

Dapper Boi

Dapper Boi is a gender-neutral fashion company driven by inclusion, comfort, and a contemporary style. Vicky and Charisse Pasche launched Dapper Boi, which appeared in Season 14 Episode 20, where it garnered attention for its wide range of sizing options and gender-fluid designs. Although they did not leave with a deal, the exposure proved to be impactful in increasing sales. It slowly started forming a loyal customer base as well. Presently, Dapper Boi is still on the rise, developing new chic denim, tops, and outerwear that are questioning traditional gender norms while fostering positive body image and self-expression in fashion.

TA3 Swim

TA3 Swim has redefined the swimwear industry through designs that resemble corsets to sculpt and enhance the body. Leila Shams introduced the brand on Shark Tank, showing swimsuits that are compressive and adjustable for a fit-to-flatter process. She did not get any deal at that time, but her presence was enough to climb TA3 Swim's popularity graph and move up several sales and fan bases around it. The brand is a perfect blend of cuteness and functionality, catering to customers who love wearing chic swimwear but still want some support.