After being laid off from his sales job in the 2008 recession, Tom Patterson decided to be/do/make something different. He remembered that many successful people today made their fortune simply by “building a better mousetrap.” Patterson thought that one of the things that annoyed him as a salesman was the “fabric gut” from his underwear. He decided to redesign men’s underwear.
He searched for the perfect fabric and had a tailor make the original 15 pairs by hand. He gave them out to friends and asked for honest feedback. Once he believed he had the perfect fabric and fit, Patterson and girlfriend/partner Erin Fujimoto moved to San Diego for manufacturing.
Today, the company sells their products at some of the finest retailers in the US, including Nordstrom, Saks, and Neiman Marcus. In just 5 years, revenue has surpassed the million dollar mark.
Patterson isn’t planning on stopping at men’s underwear but wants to continue to make improved products for men’s socks, robes, and pajamas. The company began producing women’s underwear and camisoles in early 2018. 
By 2016, the company states that it had sold more than 2 million pairs of men’s underwear and had their products in more than 500 stores. The company also has an extensive e-commerce site.
Company headquarters are now located in New York, New York.
Tommy John
After being laid off from his sales job in the 2008 recession, Tom Patterson decided to be/do/make something different. He remembered that many successful people today made their fortune simply by “building a better mousetrap.” Patterson thought that one of the things that annoyed him as a salesman was the “fabric gut” from his underwear. He decided to redesign men’s underwear.
He searched for the perfect fabric and had a tailor make the original 15 pairs by hand. He gave them out to friends and asked for honest feedback. Once he believed he had the perfect fabric and fit, Patterson and girlfriend/partner Erin Fujimoto moved to San Diego for manufacturing.
History
Today, the company sells their products at some of the finest retailers in the US, including Nordstrom, Saks, and Neiman Marcus. In just 5 years, revenue has surpassed the million dollar mark.
Patterson isn’t planning on stopping at men’s underwear but wants to continue to make improved products for men’s socks, robes, and pajamas. The company began producing women’s underwear and camisoles in early 2018.
By 2016, the company states that it had sold more than 2 million pairs of men’s underwear and had their products in more than 500 stores. The company also has an extensive e-commerce site.
Company headquarters are now located in New York, New York.
