TORCH Warriorwear Update | Shark Tank Season 15
Haley McClain Hill, a veteran in the United States Air Force, appeared on Shark Tank Season 15 to pitch her exclusive clothing brand, TORCH Warriorwear.
The company creates and sells military-themed bodysuits designed for women warriors of all kinds that military women can wear in their uniforms.
Based in Los Angeles, TORCH Warriorwear is a subscription-based, direct-to-consumer brand that prioritizes durability, style, comfort, and functionality essential for women serving on the front lines by providing them with various technically advanced apparel and lifestyle products.
In Shark Tank, Haley asked for a $150,000 investment for a 10% equity in her company at a $1.5 Million Valuation. She approached the Sharks to join her in the fearless TORCH team and initiate a female uniform revolution.
Although TORCH focuses on a very unconventional niche, most Sharks were concerned about the small business’s ability to fulfill a large number of orders while competing with huge garment manufacturers that could quickly adopt the idea.
Will any of the sharks invest in Torch Warriorwear? Keep reading to find out in this episode recap.
Torch Warriorwear Update Shark Tank (Season 15)
If you’re in a hurry and don’t have time to read the whole story, here’s a brief overview of what happened to Torch Warriorwear after Shark Tank.
After a few minutes of negotiations, Haley’s got an investment of $150,000 in exchange for 22.5% equity from Lori Greiner. Apart from investment, Torch Warriorwear gained immense popularity after airing the episode. In the recent update, the company is still in business and doing well.
About the Company
Haley’s grandmother, a 20-year US Air Force veteran, had a profound impact on her upbringing. After being inspired by her grandmother’s journey, Haley followed in her footsteps and joined the army.
Haley served as an Air Force ROTC cadet for five years, followed by being an active duty lieutenant for four years, and alongside, she was a professional cheerleader for two NFL teams, the San Francisco 49ers and Atlanta Falcons.
During her service in the Air Force, Haley was fed up with the baggy, unattractive, male-oriented, and inconvenient t-shirts worn as part of the battle dress.
There, she felt the need for a clothing line that would focus on the specific requirements of women in the armed forces and give them a sense of empowerment while they were wearing it.
In June 2021, when she was still in the military, Haley founded TORCH Warriorwear to make the fearless bodysuit, an undergarment crafted with breathable, stretchable, and snappable fabric that can provide comfort for women serving in the military, with the approval of the Pentagon.
These bodysuits are accessible in both long and short designs, enhanced with signature embroidery intended to instill fearlessness both in and out of uniform.
The bodysuits come in X-S, S, M, L, and X-L sizes, and the available colors include Coyote Brown, Coast Guard Blue, Marine Green, Navy Brown, Grey, Black and White.
The price of the Short Sleeve Fearless bodysuit is $60, and the Long Sleeve Fearless bodysuit retails for $75.
In addition, TORCH sells caps and satin scrunchies for $40 and $10, both of which can be pre-ordered from their own website.
They do not use intermediaries to reach their customers, permitting a personalized and direct connection between the brand and those who are proud to embrace the warrior spirit.
Torch Warriorwear Update Shark Tank (Season 15)
Haley McClain Hill, the founder and CEO of TORCH Warriorwear, participated in Shark Tank to ask for $150,000 for 10% equity in her company.
The show’s judge investors Robert Herjavec, Mark Cuban, Kevin O’Leary, Emma Grede, and Lori Greiner all wanted to know a few basic questions like whether the bodysuit abides by the military protocols, its sales figures, the uniform requirements, and if it could make a competing product.
Haley confirmed that each product from her brand is Pentagon-approved and has certain cuts and colors complementing the authorized Military dress code.
She further added that as a small, female veteran-owned, minority business, the government prefers explicitly them first before purchasing in bulk from giant manufacturers like Skims or Under Armour.
That’s why TORCH became an official vendor for AAFES – the largest military retailer around the world.
In terms of uniform requirements, Haley explained that firefighters, maintainers, and pilots are required to wear a fire-resistant body base.
Additionally, she explained that while Skims and Good American were excellent, TORCH Warriorwear could help women in tactical fields by comparing the suits to Skims.
Launched in 2021, TORCH finished the year with $16000 in sales; their sales quadrupled to $86000 in 2022 and are on track for $500000 by the end of 2023.
With a making cost of $13, the retail cost for each short-sleeved and long-sleeved bodysuit is $60 and $75, respectively.
The company has no debt as the investment source of $100,000 in Haley’s business consists of $50,000 from herself and $50,000 from her grandmother.
Sharks were unsure of how the organization would sustain itself from the opposition. Kevin was the first shark to choose not to invest because he saw Torch Warriorwear being crushed in the future by other giants, as Haley might be unable to protect it as a commodity.
He added that large unit volumes are the driving force in the business apparel and textiles industry.
Mark followed up and quit the deal because he found the business was not the ideal type for him.
Robert also opted out because of the limited market. He didn’t think investing in it would be profitable enough.
Haley became emotional, but Emma motivated her by praising the company for its superior quality of fabric products.
Emma suggested she sort out some ways to handle the apparel monsters like Skims and Great American and, afterward, declined to contribute.
Lori expressed her pride for what Haley did as a military veteran and a woman. She stepped up and offered $150,000 to TORCH Warriorwear in exchange for a 25% equity stake. Haley countered $150k for 20% value. They settled the negotiation at $150,000 for 22.5% of the equity in the organization.
The episode ended with happy, excited, and teary-eyed Haley calling her grandmother to inform her about the deal she had managed to grab.
TORCH Bodysuits Company Update
Torch Warriorwear is more than just a bodysuit. It’s a movement that’s changing the way military uniforms are made and empowering women in the military worldwide.
Through their thoughtfully curated bodysuits, TORCH Warriorwear actively promotes the firm belief that clothing plays a significant role in influencing performance and behavior.
While the brand has procured acknowledgment in remarkable publications like Military Times, AirForce Times, and Military Families Magazine, its appearance on ‘Shark Tank’ denoted a significant boost in client outreach.
TORCH Warriorwear aligns its mission with the empowerment and representation of contemporary women in the armed forces by successfully capturing the attention of potential customers with its tagline “for and by modern-day women warriors.”
Who founded TORCH Warriorwear?
Haley Marie McClain Hill is the founder and chief executive officer of TORCH Warriorwear, a line of bodysuits with short and long sleeves specifically for “women warriors,” also known as female military personnel.
What is the material of the bodysuits of TORCH Warriorwear?
The material used to manufacture the bodysuits of TORCH is a blend of spandex and rayon that conforms to the body and is stretchy, soft, and breathable.
Why wear bodysuits rather than t-shirts?
Bodysuits stay tucked in forever. The material of TORCH bodysuits is comfortable; they are made specifically for women serving in the military, and each one has a dash of sass that encourages women to be fearless.
Conclusion
TORCH Warriorwear is more than just a clothing line; it’s a movement. TORCH is a global community founded by women, for women, with the mission of celebrating, empowering, and supporting generations of military personnel.
One of the few clothing brands that aims to empower women and alleviate their discomfort with uniforms is TORCH Warriorwear.
The founder, a former cheerleader and Air Force veteran, had the appropriate background to solve the problem of working women’s uncomfortable clothing.
The business’s fundamentals were solid, but Sharks were concerned about Haley’s lack of clarity when it came to competing businesses.
Mark, Kevin, Robert, and Emma didn’t see esteem in the organization. However, Lori relied on her instincts and Haley’s veteran pride. Eventually, the business acquired a deal.
Haley left Shark Tank with the intention of making the product available to women working in other tactical fields such as law enforcement, fire fighting, and health care.
