Scroll through any fitness feed, and chances are a tank top with the slanted “YLA” script will pop up. That logo belongs to YoungLA, a Los Angeles-based apparel company that has rocketed from garage startup to nine-figure brand in barely a decade. What makes the story special is how ordinary it began: two college grads in Chatsworth, California, flipping random items on eBay and Amazon until they spotted a gap in men’s gym wear. Brothers Gurmer and Robby Chopra decided to fill that gap themselves in 2014, pouring personal savings—just a few hundred dollars—into a handful of bodybuilding shorts.
Bootstrapping All the Way to $100 Million
Unlike rivals fueled by venture capital, YoungLA stayed self-funded. Every early profit went right back into fabric, cuts, and better photos. The gamble paid off: by 2023, the company crossed $100 million in annual sales, its biggest milestone yet. Today, a staff of roughly 150 handles design, fulfillment, customer care, and nonstop product drops—proving a lean, owner-controlled model can still scale in fashion.
Why the Clothes Click
YoungLA pieces sit in the sweet spot between hardcore gym gear and everyday street style. Hoodies average $40-55, tees hover around $15-30, and fabrics range from cotton-spandex blends to feather-light nylon. That price-to-quality ratio keeps carts full, while monthly drops create buzz without breaking budgets. The catalog has stretched far beyond men’s tanks: there is now YoungLA For Her, a growing women’s line, plus youth silhouettes and denim that slides easily from squat rack to coffee run.
The Affiliate Flywheel
Scroll Instagram or TikTok and you’ll notice athletes and creators tacking a “YLA-10” discount code under their workout clips. Those codes are the backbone of YoungLA marketing. Affiliate posts generated roughly $245 million in earned-media value (EMV) in 2024—over half of the brand’s total $431 million EMV. Rather than shelling out for broad ad campaigns, the Chopras hand-code to powerlifters, sprinters, MMA contenders, and everyday gym rats who already live in the product. The result feels authentic, and sales data backs it up.
Star Power Without the Price Tag
YoungLA’s sweater-knit community now stretches far beyond micro-influencers. UFC champions Sean O’Malley and Jon Jones, boxing icon Tyson Fury, Mr. Olympia Chris Bumstead, and West Coast rapper YG all wear and promote the label. Instead of one-off celebrity shots, YoungLA signs multi-drop partnerships, letting each figure weigh in on colorways or graphics. The most headline-grabbing deal to date is a two-year capsule with Gold’s Gym, blending the gym’s 1960s Venice heritage with YoungLA’s streetwear edge for Black Friday 2024.
Building Community Off-Screen
Digital buzz matters, but YoungLA keeps customers loyal through real-world activations. The annual Block Party started as a small parking-lot sale and now draws thousands for athlete panels, free workouts, and limited tees. Attendance grew so fast that the 2024 edition expanded to two days and even spun off to Miami. By charging a token entry fee and donating merch, the brand turns a simple pop-up into a festival—and cements friendships between shoppers, staff, and sponsored athletes.
Going Global, One Warehouse at a Time
Shipping used to be a pain point for non-U.S. fans, so in March 2024, YoungLA quietly launched a European web-store that fulfills from Germany, slashing delivery times and duties across the EU and UK. The plan mirrors Gymshark’s EU roll-out and hints at similar hubs in Asia-Pacific. Traffic numbers support the move: the main Shopify storefront logs almost three million monthly visits as of April 2025.
Where the Clothes Are Made—and Why That Matters
Production is split between Pakistan and China. Pakistan handles cotton-heavy blanks thanks to its world-class mills, while Chinese partners sew tech fabrics like polyester-spandex for shorts and joggers. Both regions offer low minimums and skilled labor, letting YoungLA experiment with fresh silhouettes monthly without over-stocking. On the sustainability front, the brand has begun testing eco-friendly materials and reduced-plastic packaging as part of a broader pledge to limit its footprint.
Criticism and Course Corrections
Rapid growth isn’t painless. Long-time fans on Reddit gripe that newer drops lean streetwear over gym-first design and that quality can wobble between batches. The founders respond by tightening supplier audits and surveying buyers after each launch. Keeping boots-on-the-ground feedback flowing—via DMs, Discord rooms, and pop-up events—has helped refine fits, fabrics, and size charts in near-real time.
The Road Ahead
For 2025-26, the Chopras aim to:
- Double international sales by pushing the EU warehouse model into Canada and Australia.
- Grow YoungLA For Her to parity with the men’s line, fueled by female athletes who already drive top EMV figures.
- Pursue fresh collaborations—rumors point to NFL combine gear and an anime crossover after last year’s “Attack on Titan” teaser.
- Invest in recycled textiles and fully compostable poly-mailers to satisfy sustainability-minded Gen-Z shoppers.
If the past decade is any clue, the company will keep things scrappy, community-oriented, and price-conscious—just scaled up for a global audience.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who owns YoungLA?
Brothers Gurmer and Robby Chopra hold 100 % ownership; there are no outside investors.
How much revenue does YoungLA generate?
Internal figures and media reports place 2023 sales at roughly $100 million.
Where are YoungLA products manufactured?
Mainly in Pakistan (cotton knits) and China (technical blends).
Does the brand offer women’s apparel?
Yes. YoungLA For Her launched in 2022 and now receives monthly drops.
Is YoungLA sustainable?
The company is phasing in eco-friendly materials and reduced-plastic packaging, though it is not yet carbon-neutral.
What is the Block Party?
An annual fan festival in Los Angeles (and now Miami) featuring athlete panels, giveaways, and exclusive items.
How do discount codes work?
Approved athletes and creators earn commissions on sales through personalized 10 % codes; those codes drive more than half of YoungLA’s earned-media value.
Does YoungLA ship internationally?
Yes. Orders to Europe ship from a German hub, cutting customs fees and delivery times.
Has YoungLA partnered with major athletes?
Endorsements include UFC champions Sean O’Malley and Jon Jones, boxer Tyson Fury, and Mr. Olympia Chris Bumstead.
Is YoungLA publicly traded?
No. It remains a privately held company.
Bottom line:
YoungLA won customers by staying affordable, listening hard, and letting real athletes tell the story. As global warehouses spin up and eco goals tighten, all signs suggest the brand’s next chapter will be even bigger—yet still driven by the grassroots energy that started with two brothers and a batch of shorts.
