Jared Mortensen founded Real Men Apparel Company after spending years trying to find underwear that fit him properly. He bought and tested hundreds of styles from brands around the world, but found that even products designed to provide extra support offered little consistency in sizing. Some brands used vague names for their pouch sizes, while others provided no way to choose a fit beyond the usual waist measurement. Mortensen eventually decided to design his own underwear with a separate sizing system for the pouch.
Mortensen had spent about two decades working in aerospace and manufacturing, including positions with Boeing, Spirit AeroSystems and Textron. His career involved finance, operations, design and supply chains. He later worked in the pet products industry, where he gained experience selling consumer goods online. Although he had no background in fashion, he was familiar with developing products and working with manufacturers.
His idea was to apply a system similar to bra cup sizing to men’s underwear. Rather than using waist size to determine every dimension of the garment, customers could choose from four pouch sizes labeled A through D. Mortensen began drawing designs and contacting factories through Alibaba, working with manufacturers in China and India to turn his sketches into samples. The process required repeated changes to the shape, fabric and construction. He used his savings to pay for prototypes while trying to find a design that could be produced at a reasonable cost.
Mortensen and his wife, Jill, established Real Men Apparel Company in Haysville, Kansas, in 2021. He placed his first production order that November and began selling the underwear on Amazon in March 2022. The business initially focused on customers looking for specific fits rather than trying to compete directly with established underwear brands across the entire market.
Sales grew quickly through Amazon. Mortensen used customer feedback to refine the designs and expand the available sizes, while learning which styles attracted repeat purchases. The business reached approximately $1 million in sales during its first year of operation.
In 2023, Mortensen began exploring TikTok as another way to sell the products. During a trip to China, he watched an apparel seller generate large amounts of business through livestream shopping on Douyin, the Chinese counterpart to TikTok. He returned to Kansas and opened a TikTok Shop account shortly after the platform launched in the United States.
Mortensen began hosting live broadcasts in which he demonstrated the underwear, explained the pouch sizing system and answered questions from viewers. The broadcasts gave him a way to discuss a product that could be difficult to explain through photographs and ordinary advertisements. TikTok also brought customers to the brand’s Amazon listings, helping sales across both platforms.
The company opened its own online store in 2024, adding a direct sales channel alongside Amazon and TikTok. Mortensen expanded the product line with different fabrics, cuts and styles, using customer requests and feedback to guide new designs. He also began working with independent content creators who demonstrated the products to their audiences.
By 2025, Real Men Apparel had grown into a multimillion-dollar business, generating approximately $8.5 million in annual sales. The company developed a larger team to manage marketing, customer service, product development and online sales. Livestream shopping became a regular part of its operation, with employees and outside creators producing content in addition to Mortensen’s own broadcasts.
The growth also required more space for inventory and shipping. In early 2026, Real Men Apparel moved into a warehouse three times the size of its previous facility, with the team handling hundreds of customer orders each day. Mortensen traveled to manufacturing partners to arrange production of additional styles and increase the range of products available.
By August 2026, the business employed about 25 people and worked with roughly 2,000 independent TikTok creators. Its sales had expanded from the original Amazon listings into a mix of Amazon, TikTok Shop and its own website, supported by a growing operation in Kansas and remote staff overseas.
