We had the good fortune of connecting with Robert Patton and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Robert, every day, we about how much execution matters, but we think ideas matter as well. How did you come up with the idea for your business?
Robert Patton, the founder of SHEATH Underwear, came up with the idea for his innovative product during his time serving in the U.S. military. He noticed that traditional underwear didn’t provide adequate space, support, or comfort during physical activities, especially in hot and humid environments. Inspired by this need for better functionality, he began experimenting with designs and materials to create a more comfortable and supportive underwear solution. Traditional men’s underwear smashed his parts into a small area and he used to compare traditional whitey tighties to womens panties because there was no room for the mens reproductive organs. It was just a flat double layer of fabric that constricted everything in the groin area.

Patton’s experience in the military, combined with his desire to improve upon existing products, led him to develop SHEATH’s unique dual pouch system. This design separates and supports the male anatomy, providing both comfort and performance benefits. After refining his design, Patton launched SHEATH Underwear to provide a solution for men seeking superior comfort and support in their everyday lives.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Dual Pouch System: SHEATH’s signature feature is its dual pouch system, which separates and supports the male anatomy. This design provides superior comfort and prevents skin-on-skin contact, reducing friction and promoting airflow. The separate compartments also help to keep everything in place during physical activities, reducing the need for adjustments.

Performance Fabrics: SHEATH utilizes high-quality, moisture-wicking fabrics such as modal, bamboo, and polyester mesh blends. These materials are chosen for their softness, breathability, and moisture-wicking properties, making them ideal for active lifestyles and hot climates.

Comfort and Support: The combination of the dual pouch system and performance fabrics ensures that SHEATH Underwear offers unparalleled comfort and support for men. The design minimizes chafing and irritation, while also providing gentle compression to enhance blood flow and reduce overheating.

Versatility: SHEATH Underwear is designed to be versatile enough for everyday wear, as well as for sports, workouts, and other physical activities. The supportive design and moisture-wicking properties make them suitable for a wide range of activities and environments.

Innovative Design: Beyond the dual pouch system, SHEATH continuously innovates and improves its designs based on customer feedback and technological advancements. This commitment to innovation ensures that SHEATH stays at the forefront of men’s underwear technology.

Overall, SHEATH’s unique combination of comfort, support, and performance features sets it apart from other underwear brands on the market.

Patton said “What I am most proud of is the comfort and support SHEATH provides everyday as well as under extreme hot weather conditions, which makes it a pleasure for our customers to wear and makes me happy to know that something I created does what it says and makes people happy in the process”.

He continued “We are in our 10th year officially in business. It has been a long road. We made our first production in 2010, which was a complete failure and set us back 3 years. During that time I went to work for a Vietnamese tailor who trained me in garment construction which helped redesign the prototype which ultimately resulted in successful Kickstarter in 2013. Even though it was successful, we were met with manufacturing challenges, which required us to run a second Kickstarter, which fortunately was also successful, and between the 1st and 2nd Kickstarter, we found the manufacturer that we are still with today, which has been so beneficial. The quality and consistency of construction has been a major factor in our overall success”.

I have learned first and foremost to never give up. Where there is an obstacle, there is a solution. The universe is going to test you before you find success and most people give up at the first sign of defeat, which helps set us apart from the many potential competitors that already gave up.

One thing that I would like the world to know is that we did this without taking on serious investors. We basically did this all in house, on our own, starting at the bottom, and ending up on the world stage of the Ultimate Fighting Championship, which is a major accomplishment. We have been wanting to work with the UFC to promote SHEATH for many years now, and it is finally official. SHEATH is the Official Underwear Partner of the UFC and we are so proud of this partnership and just want the world to know that if we did it, you can accomplish your dreams as well.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
First thing we would do is have a mediation. I meditate daily, and I find it is a great way to start the day. Whenever people are in town, I like to take them to the Manitou Springs Incline and test their will. If they are up for it, I would like to take them up to High Altitude or Pound for Pound Muai Thai to do some sparring. To get some good food, I like the Sushi Spot or Red Diamond Gastro Pub. We could hang out with Cory Sandhagen and Bassil Hafez, two prominent UFC fighters and this is always a good time, because not only are they bad asses, they are also extremely intelligent and great conversationalists.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I would like to shout out my brother Matthew Humble who has been with me since day one of this journey and helped inspired the name of the business and much more, my wife Stacy who has been a huge supporter and asset to SHEATH since she has been on the team with helping with the organizational structure and efficiency. My mother who never doubted me and basically let me do what ever I wanted which led me to where I am today. Napoleon Hill who wrote the greatest book of all time, Think and Grow Rich, the rest of my team that has been so loyal, Sean, Katelyn, Raul, Steven and Felicia. There are so many people who have helped me out along the way, but for everyone out there that played a part in the growth and success of SHEATH, THANK YOU!!!

Website: sheath.com

Instagram: sheathunderwear

Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/robert-patton-b675273b

Twitter: sheathunderwear

Facebook: sheathunderwear

Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/sheath-underwear-woodland-park

Youtube: @sheathtv

Image Credits
UFC and Getty and SHEATH

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