Tom Patterson

With no prior experience in clothing design and manufacturing, Tom Patterson and Erin Fujimoto sought to reimagine the fabric, fit and function of men’s and women’s underwear to create a more comfortable and innovative solution. The married couple founded Tommy John during the 2008 recession with the humble goal of bringing a solution to men’s ill-fitting undershirts to market. Tommy John went from a start-up primarily funded through savings, a 401K and credit cards to becoming a disruptor brand challenging a sleepy industry.

16-years later since the brand introduced the world’s first patented undershirt with a stay-tucked guarantee, Tommy John has attracted celebrity loyalists, like Kevin Hart and Howard Stern, sold over 20 million pairs of underwear, is sold in over 3,000 wholesale locations, and even opened seven, soon to be eight owned retail stores. Entrepreneur and South Dakotan Tom Patterson discusses their journey scaling the Tommy John business and how they reached success by starting small.