Vuori Founder Joe Kudla: From Garage Startup to $5Billion+ Activewear Brand

That's Rocked, making every transaction more On today's flight of the Retail Pilot, I am fortunate to be joined by Joe Kudla, founder and CEO of Viore, the performance apparel brand inspired by the active coastal California lifestyle.

Raised near Seattle, he studied accounting at the University of San Diego before working as both a CPA and a fashion model.

experiences that gave him a unique lens on business and product.

After two early entrepreneurial attempts in apparel and a very successful startup in the financial space, he launched Viore in 2015 from a Southern California garage focused on premium fabrics, everyday versatility, and understated style.

Under his leadership, Viore has grown into a billion-dollar-plus global brand with a reputation for quality, community, and a modern approach to wellness and performance.

Joe,

welcome to the Retail Pilot.

Thank you, Ken.

Excited to be here.

You come highly recommended by our mutual friend, Simeon Siegel.

So I said, all right, Simeon, I'll do a podcast with Joe.

Simeon's fantastic.

I've loved getting to know him over the

years.

He is like just one of the best guys out there.

Honestly, love him.

He's a bright mind and he really understands the retail business.

I've really enjoyed pontificating on our space and where things are going.

And, you know, we shared some philosophy early on kind of, you know, why a DDC brand would enter wholesale and things like that.

Yeah, I often tap him when I have questions on where the industry is going, what the challenges are, and also what the opportunities are.

He's my go-to guy.

That's Rocked, making every transaction more On today's flight of the Retail Pilot, I am fortunate to be joined by Joe Kudla, founder and CEO of Viore, the performance apparel brand inspired by the active coastal California lifestyle.

Raised near Seattle, he studied accounting at the University of San Diego before working as both a CPA and a fashion model.

experiences that gave him a unique lens on business and product.

After two early entrepreneurial attempts in apparel and a very successful startup in the financial space, he launched Viore in 2015 from a Southern California garage focused on premium fabrics, everyday versatility, and understated style.

Under his leadership, Viore has grown into a billion-dollar-plus global brand with a reputation for quality, community, and a modern approach to wellness and performance.

Joe,

welcome to the Retail Pilot.

Thank you, Ken.

Excited to be here.

You come highly recommended by our mutual friend, Simeon Siegel.

So I said, all right, Simeon, I'll do a podcast with Joe.

Simeon's fantastic.

I've loved getting to know him over the

years.

He is like just one of the best guys out there.

Honestly, love him.

He's a bright mind and he really understands the retail business.

I've really enjoyed pontificating on our space and where things are going.

And, you know, we shared some philosophy early on kind of, you know, why a DDC brand would enter wholesale and things like that.

Yeah, I often tap him when I have questions on where the industry is going, what the challenges are, and also what the opportunities are.

He's my go-to guy.