Draft:YoungLA
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| Type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Apparel |
| Founded | 2014 |
| Founders | Gurmer Chopra; Dashmeet Chopra |
| Headquarters | Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
Area served | International |
| Revenue | US$176 million (2024) |
| Website | www |
YoungLA is an American apparel company based in Los Angeles, California. Founded in 2014 by brothers Gurmer Chopra and Dashmeet Chopra, the company sells activewear, streetwear, and lifestyle clothing through a direct-to-consumer model. YoungLA began as an e-commerce resale business before shifting into original apparel manufacturing and limited-release product drops.[1][2]
According to documents reviewed by CNBC Make It, YoungLA generated US$176 million in revenue in 2024.[1] Forbes described the company as combining streetwear and athleisure with influencer marketing and a scarcity-based "drop" release model.[2]
History
[edit]Founding and early business
[edit]Gurmer Chopra and Dashmeet Chopra were born in India and immigrated to the United States with their parents in the early 2000s. The family initially lived in New Jersey, where their father operated a souvenir business supplying tourist shops in New York City. The family later moved to California, where their father worked as a district manager for gift shops in Los Angeles.[2][1]
In 2014, while Gurmer Chopra was studying economics and accounting at the University of California, Santa Barbara, the brothers began reselling clothing and accessories online. They sourced products from wholesale markets in Downtown Los Angeles and sold them through eBay, Amazon, and Shopify. The brothers initially invested a combined $5,000, which they reinvested as the business grew.[1]
After graduating in 2015, Gurmer Chopra briefly worked as an auditor at Ernst & Young before leaving the firm to focus full-time on the business.[1] By 2016, the resale operation generated just under $500,000 in net profit, according to Forbes.[2]
Shift to original apparel
[edit]In 2017, the Chopra brothers began manufacturing original products, with men's gym shorts among their first proprietary items. They adopted the name "YoungLA", derived from an eBay username inspired by a DJ known as "Young California". Around the same period, they purchased the Instagram handle "YoungLA" to support direct-to-consumer marketing.[2][1]
That year, the company reached its first US$1 million in annual revenue and began shifting away from third-party marketplaces toward sales through its own website.[1]
Business model
[edit]Limited-release strategy
[edit]Beginning in 2018, YoungLA adopted a limited-release "drop" model, releasing new products approximately every two weeks. Forbes compared the approach to scarcity-driven strategies used by streetwear brands such as Supreme, noting that limited availability can encourage customers to purchase at full price.[2]
Retail analyst David Swartz, quoted by Forbes, described the model as a form of artificial scarcity that can improve margins but also carries operational risk if inventory does not sell as expected.[2]
Influencer marketing
[edit]YoungLA has used influencer marketing as part of its sales strategy, working with fitness influencers, athletes, and online creators. According to Forbes, some influencers receive affiliate commissions of approximately 15 percent per sale, along with base compensation under certain contracts. Industry analysts quoted by Forbes characterized this type of arrangement as blurring the line between influencer partnerships and employment relationships.[2]
Growth and operations
[edit]Revenue growth
[edit]YoungLA experienced revenue growth during the COVID-19 pandemic amid increased demand for athleisure and home fitness apparel. Revenue increased from US$6 million in 2020 to US$35 million in 2021, US$90 million in 2022, and US$150 million in 2023. CNBC Make It reported that the company generated US$176 million in revenue in 2024, based on internal documents reviewed by the outlet.[2][1]
By this period, approximately half of the company's revenue came from lifestyle and streetwear products rather than traditional gym apparel, according to Forbes.[2]
Product development and manufacturing
[edit]YoungLA designs its apparel in Los Angeles, with manufacturing primarily based in China. According to Forbes, the company's product development process typically takes eight to nine months from initial design to retail release. Each biweekly release generally includes eight to ten styles.[2]
Retail expansion
[edit]After operating primarily online for more than a decade, YoungLA opened its first flagship retail store at Westfield Topanga in Los Angeles. FashionUnited reported that the store was located on the second floor of the mall and carried the company's men's and women's activewear and lifestyle products.[3]
FashionNetwork.com also reported on the opening, describing the store as YoungLA's entry into brick-and-mortar retail.[4]
Collaborations and partnerships
[edit]YoungLA has released licensed and co-branded apparel collections with sports and fitness organizations. In 2024, the company launched a UFC-branded apparel collection featuring mixed martial arts fighters including Jon Jones and Sean O'Malley. The release included tracksuits, hoodies, jerseys, and T-shirts and was reported by Sports Illustrated as part of the brand's expansion into combat sports-themed apparel.[5]
In early 2026, YoungLA entered a multiyear apparel partnership with Gold's Gym. AthletechNews reported that the collaboration included a co-branded collection of workout and lifestyle clothing.[6]
In November 2025, DesignScene reported that YoungLA introduced a holiday campaign featuring Sung Kang, Lil Baby, and Jon Jones, along with more than 55 new pieces across activewear and lifestyle categories and a Batman-themed apparel collaboration.[7]
Events and activations
[edit]In 2026, YoungLA hosted an activation at the Arnold Sports Festival in Columbus, Ohio. The Sporting News described YoungLA as a major focal point of the event and reported that the company's expo-floor space included athlete appearances, live workouts, lifting challenges, product showcases, and fan engagement. The activation included appearances by Jon Jones, Jay Cutler, Alex Eubank, Urs Kalecinski, and Arnold Schwarzenegger.[8]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e f g h Siu, Ernestine (June 24, 2025). "At 23, he quit his accounting job to start an eBay business—today, his company brings in $176 million a year". CNBC Make It. Retrieved May 7, 2026.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Melvin, Simone (August 8, 2025). "How YoungLA Pumped Up Its Activewear Startup To $176 Million In Sales". Forbes. Retrieved May 7, 2026.
- ^ Hendriksz, Vivian (January 21, 2026). "YoungLA opens debut flagship stores in Los Angeles". FashionUnited. Retrieved May 7, 2026.
- ^ "Fitness clothing brand YoungLA opens first store in LA". FashionNetwork.com. February 13, 2026. Retrieved May 7, 2026.
- ^ De Santiago, Chris (October 29, 2024). "YoungLA Drops New UFC Collection Featuring Jon Jones, Sean O'Malley and More". Sports Illustrated MMA. Retrieved May 7, 2026.
- ^ Ostertag, Elizabeth (January 9, 2026). "Gold's Gym, YoungLA Team Up for New Apparel Collab, Multiyear Partnership". AthletechNews. Retrieved May 7, 2026.
- ^ Markovic, Ana (November 7, 2025). "YoungLA Enlists Sung Kang, Lil Baby and Jon Jones for Holiday Launch". DesignScene. Retrieved May 7, 2026.
- ^ Giacomazzo, Bernadette (2026). "Arnold Schwarzenegger leads Arnold Sports Festival with Jon Jones and notable influencers". The Sporting News. Retrieved May 7, 2026.